Trump’s Iran Policy and the Curse of King Croesus
The President predicted the destruction of a civilization. He just didn't realize he was talking about our own.
Robert S. McElvaine is a historian and the author of 11 books, including The Times They were a-Changin’: 1964—The Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn. Subscribe to his Musings & Amusings Substack.
“If you make war on the Persians, you will destroy a great empire.”
~ Oracle of Delphi to King Croesus of Lydia, 546 BC
Among the stories told by Herodotus, often referred to as the first historian, is one of great relevance to us in April 2026.
King Croesus of Lydia, a kingdom that controlled western Anatolia in modern-day Turkey, was the Elon Musk of the sixth century BC. Croesus is often listed among the richest people who ever lived. “Rich as Croesus” is still used to indicate someone who is “filthy rich.” According to Herodotus, Croesus was as arrogant as he was wealthy.
Thirsting for ever more power and wealth, Croesus wanted to invade Persia. Wondering what the result of such an attack would be, Croesus did as folks did in those days. He journeyed to Delphi on Mount Parnassus northwest of Athens, a spot that was considered by ancient Greeks to be located at the navel of the world. There, the god Apollo could be consulted through his Oracle, the Pythia. Croesus had previously sent a large amount of gold and silver to Delphi.
He asked what would happen if he invaded Persia. The Pythia’s response seemed to be just want Croesus wanted to hear:
“If you make war on the Persians, you will destroy a great empire.”
The arrogant Croesus was elated. But he had neglected to ask the Oracle which great empire would be destroyed. It turned out to be his.
Eagerly returning to Lydia, Croesus soon mobilized an army and invaded Persia. It didn’t go well for him. His army was defeated and the Persians took the Lydian king prisoner. The Persians were in the process of executing him when Apollo took pity on him and saved him, but his empire was destroyed.
This story came to mind on Monday, after Donald Trump, who fancies himself to be “rich as Croesus”—or would, if he had ever heard of Croesus—and is getting there through his massive corruption, “truthed” that “a whole civilization will be destroyed tonight, never to be brought back again.” He meant the Persian civilization of Iran.
It was already clear that, whether he actually went ahead and caused “all Hell to reign [sic] down on” Iran and “There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell,” he was destroying a whole civilization: the American civilization.
His surrender to the Persians Tuesday night does not change that outcome.
Before going into his Operation Epic Insanity against modern Persia, the only oracle Trump consulted was Bibi Netanyahu. If Croesus had a group of his lackeys with him at Delphi, none of them would have dared to tell their king that he misunderstood the Oracle’s response. The same was the case with those around Trump in the White House Cabinet Room with the false prophet from Israel, several of whom knew the self-styled King of America was being led into a disaster.
Having no idea what he was getting into, Trump went ahead, apparently not even aware that the Iranians could and would close the Strait of Hormuz. Untold billions of dollars, several American deaths, the standing of the United States as good and decent country shattered (along with NATO and the world economy both severely weakened) later, the modern Persia is ruled by even more radical crazies, more determined to resist and not to believe the United States. It is in control of the Strait and talking about collecting payments for ships going through it, selling its oil much more readily than it could before.
The whole civilization of America was not destroyed, but it has been severely damaged. The Persian Empire of today has been strengthened.
And the big winner is Vladimir Putin. Unless helping Putin was Trump’s objective all along, Operations Epic Insanity was a total disaster for our nation.
If King Donald finds himself on a political pyre, where he certainly should be, Apollo should not save him.
 | A guest post by
|
What a great analysis. I didn't know the story of King Croesus, but it sure puts our current mess in historical context. History is a good teacher. "Operation Epic Insanity" is as you pointed out a total disaster for our nation. The "if"--I to hope Apollo is on vacation if and when. Thanks, Robert.
Thank you for this excellent column, Mr. McElvaine. You final sentence is, I fear, not going to happen: "If King Donald finds himself on a political pyre, where he certainly should be, Apollo should not save him." He should be removed from office immediately, either by the 25th Amendment or impeachment, but that is, I expect, wishful for thinking for most of us. Cowards and sychophants surround and protect him. I used to wonder what the breaking point was for these lickspittles--and his MAGA cult of worshippers--and now believe there is none. And I still believe that only way we'll ever be rid of this authoritarian war criminal, is when there are enough ordinary Americans in the streets demanding him gone.