Trump Backs Protests in Iran

Since December 2025, huge anti-government demonstrations have swept across Iran, which were triggered by skyrocketing inflation attributed to Iran’s currency’s collapse. (Read our international extemp analysis here!) What started as economic disagreements has evolved into one of the largest challenges to Iran’s Islamic Republic since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests in 2022-2023. With reports of over 544 deaths and more than 10,600 arrests, the protests have spread to hundreds of cities across all 31 provinces.

Trump responded with vocal support for the demonstrators, saying, “If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” He warned multiple times that Iranian leaders that violent crackdowns would trigger American intervention, though he’s been vague about what kind of intervention.

Trump’s current stance is a stark contrast to previous American responses to Iranian protests. The fact that he authorized the 2020 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, as well as the recent military actions against Iran in June 2025, makes his recent threats more serious, raising the stakes. Iranian-Americans and Democratic activists have praised Trump’s support for being empowering, particularly because of what many see as insufficient backing in the past.

However, the situation creates a difficult geopolitical situation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that the current political regime will not back down, accusing protesters of trying to “please” Trump and characterizing the demonstrations as foreign-backed destabilization. Iranian officials have warned that U.S. intervention could lead to “chaos across the entire region” and threaten American interests throughout the Middle East.

The timing is particularly delicate given the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Since October 2025, a Trump-brokered peace agreement has technically been in effect between Israel and Hamas, though violations continue. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, with Israel still occupying more than half of Gaza. The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic despite some improvements in aid delivery.

US action in Iran could destabilize the tenuous peace. Closer allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already expressed reluctance toward military action. Any escalation, from either side, could reignite the larger Middle East conflicts just when the Gaza situation is finally moving toward progress in the second round of negotiations.

In the US, Trump’s Iran stance is politically risky because of the 2026 midterm elections. His approval rating has fallen to 38%, and Republicans face potential losses in both chambers of Congress. Historically, the party controlling the White House loses ground in midterms, and Democrats have good odds of gaining seats. Trump’s bold support for Iranian protesters is a high-stakes gamble that could either work out well, and revitalize his presidency, or backfire—and accelerate its downfall as midterm elections roll around. 

Read more here:

• Jack Grey, BBC 

• Helen Regan, CNN

• Congress

• Staff, Council of Foreign Relations 

• Staff, NYT