"We Should Not Have Done It": Thiel Breaks With Trump Over Iran War, Warns America May Not "Have The Hard Power"

What happened: In audio from an Oct. 12 private lecture in Nashville obtained by Decoded by POLITICO, Peter Thiel said of the Iran war, "I think we should not have done it," and questioned whether America has the hard power. Key numbers: Lecture dated Oct. 12; audio reported Oct. Why it matters: Thiel, an early Trump backer and funder of super PACs behind JD Vance's 2022 Senate run, framed the critique as opposition to neoconservatives and Middle East wars rather than to Trump personally. Politico reported neither Thiel's representatives nor the White House responded. Coverage: 3 outlets in 24h

In audio from an Oct. 12 private lecture in Nashville obtained by Decoded by POLITICO, Peter Thiel said of the Iran war, "I think we should not have done it," and questioned whether America has the hard power.

Thiel, an early Trump backer and funder of super PACs behind JD Vance's 2022 Senate run, framed the critique as opposition to neoconservatives and Middle East wars rather than to Trump personally. Politico reported neither Thiel's representatives nor the White House responded.