Donald Trump has never uttered the words “red line” but his presidency has reached a pivotal moment as Iran tests American patience to the limit. The phrase has become toxic for the US president after Barack Obama drew his red line for Syria in 2012 over its use of chemical weapons, and then failed to punish the Assad regime for repeatedly stepping over it. In Mr Trump’s eyes this was a very public affront to American prestige. Mr Trump hammered Mr Obama for the “dumb” red line — and then criticised him when the president subsequently considered military action. In September 2013 Mr Trump tweeted: “The only reason President Obama wants to attack Syria is to save face over his very dumb RED LINE statement.

Source: The Times June 21, 2019 23:02 UTC