President Donald Trump on Tuesday entreated Iranians to “rise up and fight” while also dismissing the possibility that U.S. strikes on Iran are intended to bring Tehran to the negotiating table.
Page A11From§Eachthe milkman edition — 2 September 2026
US strikes Iran as Trump says he's not forcing talks, then urges Iranians to fight
It’s the classic bait-and-switch: on the one hand, the administration launches new strikes against Iran, insisting negotiations aren’t the goal; on the other, the President implores Iranians to ‘rise up and fight,’ dismissing talks as ‘worthless.’ Officially, it’s not about pushing for change or dialogue—just standard military operations, nothing to see here, folks. But the receipts line up: when the bombs drop and the rhetoric escalates, the real ask is for regime change by any means but the ones listed on the diplomatic menu. The contradiction is the strategy, and the message to ordinary Iranians is clear: the bombs are for you, the speeches are for us, and the price lands on the street, not the negotiating table. Power does the talking, even when it swears it doesn’t.
“They hit Iran, swear it's not about negotiations, then turn around and ask Iranians to rebel. It's power games: bomb first, talk never, but someone's kid pays the price.”
“Look, the strikes are just routine—nobody's trying to force anyone to the table. If the President encourages Iranians to stand up, that's just American optimism. Did I say optimism? I meant leadership. No pressure, definitely no mixed signals.”
The receipts
The U.S. military completed a new wave of strikes Tuesday on targets in Iran as the conflict in the region stretches into its seventh month. “U.S.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.