US President Donald Trump, who has left no stone unturned in lowering the bar for rectitude, both personal and institutional, has done it again. On Sunday, an angry Trump put out an expletive-laden post on Truth Social, warning Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz in the most coarse and abusive language ever used at this high level of global governance: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F**kin’ Strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

What does this recourse to profanity on the global stage reveal about Trump? It reveals a US President closeted with unctuous aides, who is frustrated and ranting, since the war against Iran, codenamed Operation “Epic Fury”, is not unspooling as per the script he had envisioned, that is, a Venezuela 2.0.

This pattern of lashing out at senior officials who speak the truth and conduct themselves with professional integrity was evidenced earlier in April when Trump compelled the US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to retire immediately.

The Pentagon gave no detailed public explanation, but sources described it as a “leadership change” and added that the freshly minted Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, wanted someone who would more fully implement the Trump-Hegseth vision for the Army.

The Washington grapevine has it that the long-festering trigger was Hegseth’s push to block promotions of four Army........

© Indian Express