In January, White House advisor Stephen Miller gave an assertive interview to CNN’s Jake Tapper. Riding on the success of a military raid that captured Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro, Miller took the opportunity to declare a new era in American foreign policy. According to him, America would shed its role as the global police, funding a world order that no longer served its people. The country would now assert its influence with audacity and unapologetic force.
This sentiment appeared to reflect President Donald Trump’s vision of power, articulated by one of his administration’s most hardline voices. Indeed, the United States holds an unrivaled standing as the world’s superpower. With the largest global economy and a currency that dominates international markets, its influence is substantial. Militarily, it commands an advanced force, equipped with high-tech operations and elite special forces.
Emboldened by this confidence, the Trump administration embarked on what many have termed a reckless and unprovoked war with Iran over two months ago. Trump envisioned showcasing American strength, unencumbered by what Miller described as the “niceties” of international law. This approach, championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, focused on aggressive “kinetic” action.
The outcome, however, deviated from expectations. Despite losing its leader and senior officials, Iran retaliated effectively, damaging American allies in the region and military installations. By controlling the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran wielded substantial economic leverage, affecting global fuel prices and causing shortages worldwide.
We live in a world,” Miller told Tapper, “that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power.”
The Iran conflict has starkly countered this narrative. The administration has not only overestimated American military capability but also underestimated its adversary’s resilience. It misconstrued power as synonymous with brute force when the two are often at odds.
Miller’s rhetoric harks back to Thucydides’ seminal work, “History of the Peloponnesian War.” The ancient text chronicles the rivalry between Athens and Sparta. In one episode, the dominant Athenians threaten the neutral island of Melos, insisting, “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” Yet the misleading simplicity of power as force continues to reverberate through history.