Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance 

I post the direct statements from President Trump on the calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin because if you read the background, both before and after the Israel strike operation, you can clearly see the strategy. [Check Dates]

President Trump is doing what modern U.S officials never did, showing respect to the aligned nuclear powers and positioning any action for the least amount of geopolitical collateral damage.  President Trump knows one of the key geopolitical influences upon Iran is the Russian Federation.

You do not have to be pro or anti-Trump to understand how executive level respect and diplomacy works. This is why the leadership of the Russian Federation respect Trump (firm but thoughtful), even if they are in opposition to his positions.

Remember the statements yesterday in Canada, at the G7, specifically about the Russian sanctions.  These statements above should be read with the context of before and after the strikes in Iran began; then overlay the statements yesterday about the sanctions.  There is a very clear message conveyed.

President Trump does not want a targeted problem to escalate into a regional geopolitical conflict.  So, he takes proactive and ongoing steps to ensure containment.  This is the part that French President Macron (doofus) cannot intellectually conceptualize; hence, President Trump’s curt remarks.

Even before the Israeli operation against Iran began, President Trump draws safe proactive perimeters that all traditional agents of governmental influence can understand.

Like you, I completely do not want expanded conflict that could potentially draw the U.S. into something far more dangerous.  However, I also don’t see that as a likely outcome.  President Trump is in the support position to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons from Iran; let him work without our dark imaginings injecting something that does not exist.

Don’t buy clicks and hype. Just focus on the prudent approach evidenced in the honest analysis of Trump’s considerations. He’s not shooting from the hip.  If you understand this, if you can see this in Trump’s words and deeds, then contrast with Macron.

KANANASKIS, Alberta — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday opposed bringing down the Iranian regime violently as he warned of potentially destabilizing effects across the Middle East.

“The biggest mistake today would be to try to do a regime change in Iran through military means because that would lead to chaos,” Macron told reporters on the last day of the G7 summit in Canada, warning that “no one can say what comes next.”

“We never support actions of regional de-stabilization,” he added.

Macron’s remarks come as fears snowball over the U.S. potentially joining Israel’s military campaign in Iran, which began late last week and has crippled Iranian nuclear sites and killed top regime officials.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump was indeed considering that option. On his way back to the U.S. yesterday evening, Trump said he wanted a “real end” to the conflict and that he was “not too much in a mood to negotiate.”

Macron mentioned forced regime changes carried out by the U.S. and NATO allies in Iraq and Libya as past mistakes that should not be repeated, given they had birthed subsequent deadly political instability. (read more)

As we watch how President Trump is navigating this, I can see a strong, thoughtful leadership position within the big picture.   A politician like Emmanuel Macron could never fathom calling an ‘adversary’ (Putin) to talk about a potential conflict with a positioned ally (Iran) of that adversary.

President Trump has taken that proactive action with Putin specifically to avoid the ‘expanded conflict’ outcome that is driving the fear wedge within MAGA.  These conversations with Putin are EVIDENCE of Trump’s intent not to create collateral conflict, and it looks like Vladimir Putin understands him.