As of June 17, 2025, Donald Trump’s second term is grappling with a stark contrast between his campaign pledges and his administration’s actions, particularly as global conflicts intensify. Trump rode into office in January 2025 on promises of ending wars, avoiding new entanglements, and prioritizing “America First.” Yet, five months in, unkept promises and a shift toward neoconservative behavior—most evident in the escalating Iran-Israel conflict—paint a different picture. With the Doomsday Clock at 89 seconds to midnight, the world watches as wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and beyond threaten to spiral out of control.
Failed Promises: A Legacy of Unfulfilled Vows
Trump’s 2024 campaign echoed his 2016 rhetoric, promising to end the Russia-Ukraine war quickly, release the Epstein and JFK files, build a fully funded border wall with Mexico paying, repeal Obamacare, achieve 4-6% economic growth, “drain the swamp,” create a Bitcoin reserve, and avoid new wars. However, progress has stalled. The Ukraine conflict drags on, with no peace deal despite Trump’s boasts of a 24-hour resolution—recently dismissed as “sarcastic” amid ongoing Russian advances. The Epstein file release in February 2025 revealed little beyond confirming his suicide, with FBI Director Kash Patel stating there’s “nothing there,” disappointing transparency advocates. The JFK and MLK file promises remain unfulfilled, echoing his 2017 delay. The border wall remains incomplete, Mexico unpaid, and Obamacare intact, while economic growth hovers at 2-3%, far below the promised 4-6%. The Bitcoin reserve idea has vanished, and “draining the swamp” seems hollow with figures like Patel and Pam Bondi entrenched. These failures suggest either political resistance or a shift in priorities, raising questions about the sincerity of his original vision.
Neoconservative Turn: From Isolationism to Intervention
Trump’s early resistance to foreign wars—evident in his first term’s avoidance of new conflicts and troop drawdowns in Syria and Afghanistan—has given way to a neoconservative tilt. The current Iran-Israel conflict, sparked by Israel’s June 12 airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, exemplifies this shift. Despite Trump’s initial push for diplomacy with Tehran, his administration’s $8 billion weapons package to Israel and tacit approval of its strikes—followed by U.S. missile defense support—mirror the interventionist playbook of past neoconservative agendas. His withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018, urged by Israel, set the stage, and recent threats of bombing if Iran doesn’t comply reflect a “peace through strength” doctrine that embraces military leverage over negotiation. This pivot, influenced by pro-Israel hawks like Miriam Adelson and evangelical support, contradicts his “no new wars” pledge, drawing criticism from his base and figures like Rand Paul, who warn of endless entanglements.
The Iran Conflict: A Flashpoint of Escalation
The Iran-Israel clash, now in its sixth day, is a microcosm of this shift. Israel’s Operation Rising Lion targeted Natanz and Isfahan, killing Iranian commanders and scientists, prompting Iran’s missile retaliation and Houthi involvement. Trump’s Truth Social posts oscillate between urging a deal and warning of unmatched U.S. military might, yet his refusal to restrain Israel—despite Netanyahu’s defiance of U.S. diplomacy—suggests complicity. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports Iran’s uranium enrichment at 60%, with nine potential bombs’ worth, fueling Israel’s preemptive strike rationale. However, the attack’s failure to destroy fortified sites like Fordow, combined with Iran’s vow of “severe punishment,” risks a broader war. U.S. bases in the region face potential reprisals, pulling America deeper despite Trump’s denials of direct involvement.
Global Wars: A World on Edge
Beyond Iran, multiple conflicts amplify the global crisis. The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year, sees Russian nuclear threats and North Korean troop deployments, with no ceasefire despite Trump’s mediation attempts. The Israel-Palestine conflict, reignited by the 2023 Hamas attack, continues with Gaza’s devastation and Hezbollah’s proxy role, straining regional stability. U.S. strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, ongoing since 2015, escalate with Iran’s backing, while Syria’s post-Assad chaos and Libya’s warlord rule linger as legacies of past interventions. China’s naval exercises near Taiwan and North Korea’s missile tests add to the tension, with the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea axis challenging Western dominance. The Doomsday Clock’s adjustment to 89 seconds reflects these interconnected threats, with climate stress and technological risks compounding the danger.
The Cost of Broken Promises
Trump’s base, once united against neoconservative wars, fractures as figures like Tucker Carlson decry involvement, while hawks push for strikes on Fordow. Critics argue his Iran policy—sabotaged by Israel—undermines his peacemaker image, while supporters claim global chaos, not his intent, drives the shift. The establishment narrative of stabilizing the Middle East via force is questioned, given Iraq and Syria’s failures, yet Trump’s tactical adaptability may reflect a pragmatic response to an unraveling world. With wars multiplying and the clock ticking, the gap between his promises and actions risks not just political capital but global survival. Unless diplomacy reemerges, the next detonation—nuclear or otherwise—may be closer than anyone dares admit.