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In a surprising political détente, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has publicly praised President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran, marking a significant shift in the relationship between the two former political rivals.
Bush, now leading the organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), commended Trump for showing “historic leadership” in supporting Iranian protesters and pushing for a denuclearized and democratized Iran. The former governor’s statement came in response to Trump’s recent social media post encouraging Iranian protesters.
“Take over your institutions. Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week, addressing Iranian citizens demonstrating against their government.
Bush and former Ambassador Mark Wallace, who co-lead UANI, released a joint statement expressing their alignment with Trump’s position. “President Trump continues to demonstrate historic leadership on Iran, with unprecedented support for the Iranian people as they face bullets for freedom. We at UANI join him in standing with the brave people of Iran,” the statement read.
This public harmony represents a remarkable evolution in the relationship between Bush and Trump, who were fierce competitors during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. During that contentious campaign, Trump famously labeled Bush as “Low Energy Jeb,” while Bush countered that Trump was a “chaos candidate” who couldn’t “insult his way to the presidency.”
Trump also reportedly made personal jabs at Bush’s family, including a comment that “Your mom can’t help you with ISIS” after former first lady Barbara Bush appeared in a campaign ad supporting her son.
The Trump administration has been noted for taking a harder stance against the Iranian regime than previous administrations. Trump canceled planned talks with Tehran leaders following reports of violent government crackdowns on protesters. This approach has drawn praise from various quarters, including now from Bush.
“For far too long, the United States and the West have equivocated in expressing support for the people of Iran in the face of the Ayatollah’s violence and repression,” Bush and Wallace stated. “President Trump’s post made clear that no longer will the United States and the West lack the moral clarity to support the people of Iran as they face bullets for freedom. That change is historic.”
UANI, which Bush helps lead, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to combating threats posed by Iran. The group’s alignment with Trump’s Iran policy suggests a growing consensus among certain Republican foreign policy figures regarding how to address the Iranian regime.
The White House, when asked to comment on this unexpected common ground between Trump and one of his former rivals, emphasized through a senior administration official that they support the Iranian people against the regime’s human rights abuses and repression. The official described the Iranian government as “one of the world’s worst violators of human rights,” that oppresses its citizens to maintain power.
This political realignment comes amid ongoing protests in Iran, where citizens have been demonstrating against government repression. The situation has created an opportunity for American political figures to find common ground on foreign policy, even as domestic politics remain deeply divided.
The convergence of Bush and Trump on Iran policy highlights how geopolitical challenges can sometimes transcend personal political rivalries, particularly when addressing authoritarian regimes and human rights concerns on the world stage.
For both men, who represent different wings of the Republican Party, this moment of agreement suggests that despite their past conflicts, there may be more policy alignment between them than their heated 2016 campaign exchanges would have indicated.
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10 Comments
It’s interesting to see Jeb Bush and Trump finding common ground on Iran policy after their past rivalry. Regardless of political differences, supporting the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom is the right thing to do.
I agree. Putting politics aside, the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters deserves global condemnation.
It’s refreshing to see political rivals like Bush and Trump put aside their differences to support the Iranian people’s struggle for democracy. This bipartisan stance sends a powerful message.
Agreed. Showing a united front in support of the Iranian protesters’ courageous fight for freedom is an important statement.
After their past rivalry, it’s noteworthy to see Bush praising Trump’s support for the Iranian protesters. Bipartisan agreement on this issue sends a strong message.
Yes, the joint statement from UANI is a significant display of unity. Pressuring the Iranian regime from across the political spectrum is crucial.
This détente between Bush and Trump is a surprising but welcome development. Backing the Iranian people’s fight for democracy and human rights should transcend partisan divides.
Absolutely. Both leaders putting aside their differences to stand with the Iranian people is an important show of unity on a critical issue.
This is an encouraging development, with Bush and Trump finding common ground on such an important human rights issue. Uniting to support the Iranian people’s fight for freedom is commendable.
Absolutely. Putting politics aside to stand with the protesters against the regime’s brutality is the right thing to do, regardless of party affiliation.