To Defend Iran Strikes, Trump Shares West Wing Clip

President Trump is leaning on a TV president to frame his latest move against Iran. Hours after US forces carried out new strikes in response to Iran shooting down a US Army helicopter, Trump twice shared a clip from NBC's The West Wing that questions whether a "proportional response" is the right way to answer such attacks, reports the Washington Post. The military had described Tuesday's action as a proportionate retaliation for recent attacks on US troops and commercial shipping in the region.

The scene Trump highlighted shows fictional President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, rejecting a limited strike after the downing of a US plane and calling instead for "total disaster" as a deterrent. Trump posted the clip on Truth Social, including once alongside US Central Command's announcement of the Iran strikes. He did not share the episode's conclusion, reports the Hill, in which Bartlet ultimately backs away from a larger assault after being warned it would cause extensive civilian casualties.