Trump openly said the Iran war was fought to help Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain — bad news for Americans paying the cost and for US credibility, good news only for those Gulf states and Israel.

• Trump said the US did not need the Iran war for itself and listed the countries it actually benefited, most of which his family does business with.
• He hinted at attacking Iran again to recover enriched uranium, admitting it is unnecessary but needed for public relations after he hyped it.
• Intelligence reports show Iran is rebuilding its missile sites fast, and hawks are now arguing the US must escalate rather than admit defeat.
• Trump's China trip went badly: Xi framed America as a declining power, Boeing got a smaller plane order than expected, and Trump came home with little.
• The one upside: Trump may back off a Taiwan confrontation because he wants business deals, not war with a country that dominates manufacturing.

Outlook: More US strikes on Iran are likely as Trump tries to save face, while China keeps gaining ground as America looks weaker.