Ben Rhodes: Trump Is Getting a Terrible Deal

In this episode of The Bulwark, host Tim Miller welcomes back Ben Rhodes, former Deputy National Security Advisor under Barack Obama, to dissect the unfolding diplomatic situation between the U.S. and Iran following a recent 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Rhodes delivers a scathing critique of President Trump’s handling of the crisis, arguing that the war launched under Trump’s administration caused massive destruction—economic, geopolitical, and humanitarian—without achieving its stated goals. He contrasts the current proposed deal, reportedly involving unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets and limited nuclear restrictions, with the original JCPOA, which imposed strict, verifiable limits on Iran’s nuclear program through international oversight and a comprehensive monitoring regime. Rhodes emphasizes that Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 accelerated Iran’s nuclear advancement, making the current negotiations more difficult and less secure. He warns that the proposed deal lacks legitimacy, international backing, and enforceability, and that Iran will likely use any sanctions relief to rebuild its military capabilities, including ballistic missiles and drone forces. Rhodes also critiques the domestic political landscape, noting how right-wing hawks who once vilified him for the JCPOA are now likely to defend Trump’s deal despite its flaws. He extends this analysis to U.S. foreign policy more broadly, arguing that the war has alienated allies, strengthened authoritarian regimes like Iran and Russia, and damaged America’s global moral standing. Finally, Rhodes reflects on his forthcoming book, 'All We Say: The Battle for American Identity,' using J.D. Vance’s recent speech as a foil to argue that American identity should be rooted in inclusive, creedal principles—not blood and soil nationalism. He calls for Democrats to embrace a foreign policy of restraint, self-renewal, and moral clarity.