Trump Crashes Out on Air Force One as Iran Plan Backfires!!!

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Crashes Out on Air Force One as Iran Plan Backfires!!!
Date: April 18, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

This episode sharply critiques former President Donald Trump’s handling and public discourse surrounding recent Iran policy developments, focusing on his misleading statements about agreements with Iran, supposed openings of the Strait of Hormuz, and claims of US-Iran cooperation. The Meiselas brothers expose what they describe as a pattern of fabrications, market manipulation, and strategic confusion by Trump, contextualizing the fallout both domestically and internationally—with particular attention to reactions from Iran, Russia, and Belarus.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Iran Bluff and the Strait of Hormuz Reality

• Ben opens by debunking Trump’s statements:
  • Trump claimed Iran agreed to stop funding proxy groups and would cooperate with US forces to recover nuclear material—claims Iran publicly rejected as “laughably false.”
  • Actual facts: Iran maintains strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, only allowing select commercial ships through for a fee and under military supervision.
• Trump’s assertion: “The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business…most of the points are already negotiated”—contradicted by on-the-ground reports and Iranian statements.
• Notable moment (03:20): Ben frames Trump’s entire “deal” as market manipulation, highlighting suspiciously timed large trades in oil futures just before Trump’s announcements.

2. Market Manipulation Allegations

• A suspicious selloff in Brent crude futures worth roughly $760 million occurred minutes before Trump’s public statements about Iran—implying possible foreknowledge or attempts to impact oil markets.
• Ben: “Let’s call it what it was, it was market manipulation.” (04:43)

3. Trump’s Bizarre Press Q&A Aboard Air Force One

• Recording: Trump rambles about potential military action, repeating falsehoods about Iran’s agreements and uranium:
  • [05:08] Trump: “Maybe I won’t extend [the ceasefire]. So you have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.”
  • [06:04] Trump: “We’ll go in with Iran and we will take it together and we will bring 100% of it back to the United States…”
  • [07:54] When called out on Iran’s denials, Trump claims, “they have people that they have to cater to also. I really don’t. I’m just doing the thing that’s right. I’m just saying it like it is.”
• Ben ridicules the idea of American and Iranian troops “holding hands together,” calling the whole concept absurd.

4. Iran Strikes Back: Public and Official Rejection

• Iranian officials categorically deny Trump’s claims, ridiculing any prospect of cooperation or surrendering nuclear material as a “red line.”
• Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi (an Iranian insider):
  • [15:31] “Trump is, of course, making up all this stuff…so that perhaps when, in three or four days, he can say Iran promised all these things, but now they’ve refused to abide by their commitments. Nonexistent commitments.”
  • Professor Marandi speculates that Trump may be setting a pretext for military escalation if Iran “fails” to honor deals it never made.

5. Reporters Grill Trump, Rejecting His Story

• Press directly challenges Trump’s narrative, to which he responds with deflection and further falsehoods.
  • [09:01] “Restrictions? Yeah, the restrictions. You can’t do the tolls. No, they’re not going to be tolls.”

6. Russian and Belarusian Reaction: Allies Mock U.S. Posture

• Ben details how sanctions on Russian and Belarusian oil and banking have quietly been eased—contradicting administration promises.
• Alexander Lukashenko (President of Belarus) on Russian State TV openly mocks Trump’s failed Iran gambit and the perceived exposure of US weakness:
  • [13:32] “Trump shows the whole world that your United States is not all-powerful…if the Americans couldn’t handle Iran…they won’t be able to deal with China.”
  • He claims Trump has revealed the limits of US capabilities, urging the US to recognize other nations’ interests.

7. Final Thoughts: Seeing Through the Distractions

• Ben’s conclusion: Ignore Trump’s “ridiculous statements” meant to distract from failures and manipulations.
  • “I trust my eyes and ears and what I’m seeing...The Strait of Hormuz is effectively controlled 100% by Iran.” (17:39)
• The podcast closes with an emphasis on evidence-based analysis and a promise for further international reactions in future episodes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben (on Trump’s market moves):
  • “Let’s call it what it was, it was market manipulation.” (04:43)
• Donald Trump (on the possibility of renewed attacks):
  • “So you have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.” (05:08)
• Professor Marandi:
  • “Trump is, of course, making up all this stuff…nonexistent commitments…justifying another war.” (15:31)
• Alexander Lukashenko:
  • “Trump shows the world that your United States is not all-powerful…They are not limitless.” (13:32)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:20–04:43 – Trump’s bogus Iran claims and market manipulation allegations
• 05:01–06:30 – Trump’s Air Force One Q&A (ceasefire/bombing threats, nuclear material claims)
• 07:54–09:07 – Reporters directly confront Trump’s falsehoods, details on Strait of Hormuz
• 13:32–15:05 – Lukashenko’s mockery and broader critique of US global power
• 15:31–17:39 – Prof. Marandi’s analysis: fabricated agreements as a pretext for war
• 17:39–18:42 – Ben’s closing summary and preview of coming international perspectives

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Episode Tone and Style

• Combines sharp critique, legal and geopolitical analysis, and the brothers’ signature comedic banter
• Unapologetically pro-democracy, fact-focused, and skeptical of both US and Iranian government claims—“trust but verify” attitude
• Energetic, direct, conversational, and irreverent—never losing sight of the comedic undertone even on weighty topics

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For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode serves as a bracing breakdown of the latest Iran “deal” drama—skewering Trump’s narratives, exposing market shenanigans, and putting the situation in a global context.

Transcript

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[Ben (Political Commentator)]

Wayfair Every style, every home. Donald Trump is panicking as his Iran fraud stunt backfires in his face. What you saw right there at the outset of this video is Tehran Square. You have tens of thousands of Iranians out there who are protesting Donald Trump and his regime and they right there are rallying around the Iranian regime. The exact opposite result of what Donald Trump wanted. I mean, remember back in January when there were tens of thousands of pro democracy protesters taking to the street and Donald Trump said, we've got your back, we will help you out. And then Donald Trump abandoned them. Right now we're seeing the opposite as Donald Trump is out there claiming that there was a great deal with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz is totally open and that American military forces are joining forces with with the Iranian military and they will be collecting the nuclear material that so called nuclear dust together at the various Iranian nuclear facilities and that Iran's no longer, it's a ridiculous thing to say that Iran's no longer going to be funding any proxy groups, any of the access of resistance, whether it's Hezbollah or the Houthis or the Shiite militia groups in Iraq. Donald Trump says they've given me their word that they will not be funding any of those groups. And Iran's like none of that is true. Like quite literally everything that Donald Trump said on Friday is 100% a lie. And if you just take a look at these Strait of Hormuz, you see it's under Iran's control. It's not open. There were some tankers when Donald Trump made the announcement that tried to get out of the Strait of Hormuz, but they were told by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Nope, that's not the deal. What Iran said is that they will open it only to the extent you get permission from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It has to be a commercial ship, not a military ship. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard determines which ships pass. You have to pay a toll. You have to go through the Iranian approved corridor. And Iran has asserted its dominance and control over the Strait of Hormuz, which did not exist before Donald Trump and Netanyahu went on this unlawful invasion and a lawful war of Iran. That's the status of where things actually are right now. So when Donald Trump posts from the official White House account and on his social media, when he call up reporters who just spread his message like stenographers versus actually looking at what's happening, it needs to be called out. I mean, Donald Trump's post was the Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business, in full passage. But the naval blockade will remain in full force, in effect as it pertains, as it pertains to Iran, only until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete. This process should go very quickly and the most of the points are already negotiated, what you've agreed to Iran's ten point framework, where you've basically given up everything. And when we talk about what really went down on Friday, let's call it what it was, it was market manipulation. Friday, just 20 minutes before Trump's announcement that the Straight of Hormuz was open, which it was not open, massive trades hit the market. Investors sold a combined 7,990 lots of Brent crude futures, a $760 million bet that oil would go down. These orders were much larger than anything else at the time. These traders made HU gains, more market manipulation. Now, Donald Trump was on Air Force One yesterday, ranting and raving like a lunatic. And when reporters asked him, so what happens if you don't have a deal by Wednesday with Iran? Trump's like, well, I guess we'll start dropping bombs again. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Excuse me, but in any event, we'll get it.

[Reporter]

If you don't have a deal by Wednesday, when the cease fire ends, will you extend the cease fire or will you start attacks again?

[Donald Trump]

Maybe I won't accept it, but the blockade is going to remain, but maybe I won't extend it. So you have a blockade and unfortunately we'll have to start dropping bombs again. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. I think it's going to happen.

[Reporter]

What about the UFOs, Mr. President,

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

then Donald Trump said regarding the uranium enrichment and blocking the uranium enrichment in Iran, Donald Trump goes, we'll go in with Iran and we'll just take it together. That's the game plan. American troops, Iranian troops will hold hands together and we'll go collect the uranium together and we'll bring it back to the United States. Iran says it's not just false, it's laughably false that he thinks that that's something that's going to happen. Iran says our uranium is sacred. You're not touching it. We're not bringing American troops to go into the nuclear facilities. What are you talking about here? Play this clip, sign the agreement.

[Donald Trump]

Then I can give you time. Somewhere after the signing the agreement, we'll go in with Iran and we will take it together and we will bring it back 100% of it back to the United States. If we don't do that, we will get it in a different form in a much more unfriendly form. Excuse me, excuse me, but in any event, we'll get it.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

Then Donald Trump is asked again, well, what do you mean that you're just going to take the dust from Iran? Play this clip.

[Reporter]

The US Was going to take the new nuclear dust from Iran. What's the time? What's the timeline on that? How long do you want me to

[Donald Trump]

give you the time and date and everything else?

[Reporter]

Is it like you've been negotiated, how long that lasts?

[Donald Trump]

I'm not going to give you the time other than if we sign the agreement then I can give you time somewhere after the signing of the agreement, we'll go in with the ran, we'll go in with Iran and we will take it together and we will bring it back 100% of it back to the United States States. If we don't do that, we will get it in a different form in a much more unfriendly form. But in any event, excuse me, excuse me, but in any event, we'll get it. Go ahead.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

Just to be very clear, Iran says all of this is false. And you may be saying what do you mean all of it is false? Every aspect, just 100% making this up there, it's not tethered to any reality. And Iran has said before what its non negotiables are. Would it put in its 10 point framework. A reporter then says, so you told me that everything has been agreed to, but Iran says that none of this has been agreed to, that you've made up everything. Trump's like, yeah, they just have to say that so they look good at home. And it's all projection and confession because this is what Donald Trump's doing to manipulate the markets. Here, play this clip.

[Reporter]

You told me on the phone earlier that everything has been agreed to. You told me earlier that everything has been agreed to. Iran was saying something different. So what has been worked out in that time?

[Donald Trump]

I want to say something different because, you know, they have people that they have to cater to also. I really don't. I'm just doing the thing. That's right. I'm just saying it like it is. We have a situation. I think that is going to be very beneficial. And the main thing is that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. And that supersedes everything else.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

Then a reporter says, are there going to be any restrictions and tolls in this strait by Iran? Trump's like, they've agreed, no tolls, no restrictions. All ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Quite literally the opposite of true. Like, you couldn't be more false from what Iran's saying here. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

I don't think we'll have to, sir.

[Reporter]

In the strait, are there going to be restrictions and tolls managed by Iran for ships and vessels passing through?

[Donald Trump]

No way.

[Reporter]

None at all?

[Donald Trump]

Nope.

[Reporter]

No restrictions. You talk to me FISA, Mr. President.

[Donald Trump]

Restrictions? Yeah, the restrictions. You can't do the tolls. No, they're not going to be tolls

[Reporter]

on FISA, Mr. President. It'll call Luna.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

And why? He said it. How do we know? I mean, you could be saying, well, Ben, why are you believing Iran? First off, Donald Trump lies about everything. But then still, it's a good point to say, why would I believe. I don't believe Iran. I don't. I believe what's happening in the Strait of Hormuz right now. If the ships were leaving through the Strait of Hormuz, if they were able to leave and there was no tolls and it was actually happening, I would say it's actually happening. But that's not. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively controlled 100% by Iran. And the ships that have to go have to use the Strait of Hormuz have to use the approved corridor by Iran. More reporters asking him about, what do you mean that they're turning over nuclear dust? Play this clip.

[Reporter]

When you say that Iran has agreed to turn over their nuclear dust, what does that mean? Are they destroying their nuclear material? They're turning it Over. Can you walk us through what that process looks like, sir?

[Donald Trump]

We're taking it very simple. We're taking it, yeah. With Iran. We're going in with Iran.

[Reporter]

Does that mean us on the ground to get that?

[Donald Trump]

I don't call it which on the ground. We'll take it after the agreement is signed. After that. There's a big difference. Before and after, after BC before and after.

[Reporter]

Sir, in the street, are there going

[Donald Trump]

to be restrictions a lot different than before? We would have taken it if we didn't have an agreement. We would take it, but I don't think we'll have to, sir.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

Then a reporter asked Donald Trump, is Lebanon part of the deal with Iran? And Trump's like, no, maybe psychologically it is. Here, play this clip.

[Reporter]

Exceptions ceasefire in Lebanon need to happen for you to get to a deal with Iran.

[Donald Trump]

But you could say maybe psychologically tied, but we're going to help Lebanon become a country again. You know, it's been a long time for them. They've gone through a lot and we're going to help them be a country again.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

What do you mean psychologically? It's a part of the deal within Lebanon. Hezbollah is part of what Iran calls the axis of resistance and it is inextricably intertwined into whatever the ultimate outcome is. That's one of the ten points of the ten point FR framework. But anyway, Donald Trump lies about everything. While Donald Trump wants us all to be distracted by his ridiculous statements. Pay attention to what also happened last night, though. Two days after saying the US Would not would never renew sanction waivers on Russia on Russia or Iranian oil, Treasury Secretary Besson quietly extended a license allowing Russian oil transactions for another month not to have sanctions. Let me repeat that. Two days after saying the US Would not renew sanctions waivers on Russian or Iranian oil, Bessens treasury quietly extended the license allowing Russian oil transactions for another month. You can see right here the general license allowing Russia to sell its previously sanctioned oil. By the way, previously Treasury Secretary Besant did that to Lukashenko. Lukashenko is the president of Belarus a Putin bootlicker, a Putin sycophant. Right there. And you can see the removal of sanctions from Belarusian banks and sanctioned banks. Lukashenko signed a document about Belarus joining the Board of Peace back in January of 2026. Why am I bringing that up right now? Because you know how Donald Trump is like. These other countries are laughing at us. They're laughing at us now. They think we're strong. Okay, Lukashenko and Putin are laughing in your face as you remove These sanctions against them. Okay, Lukashenko just gave an interview to rt, to Russia's propaganda network, and here's what he said about Donald Trump. He said, if the US can't even stop Iran, you think they'll be able to stop Russia and China or any other country? This is Lukashenko literally laughing in Donald Trump's face while Donald Trump removes oil sanctions against Belarus, against Russia, banking sanctions are removed against Belarus and Russia, and then they're mocking Donald Trump. This was from an interview that just took place. Let's play it.

[Alexander Lukashenko]

But despite some foolishness and some impulsiveness, Trump did a lot for this. Trump shows the whole world that your United States, America is not all powerful. By its power. It is a superpower, but not a super force. Everyone has understood this. And America's main enemy is China. If the Americans couldn't handle Iran, as I've said long ago, then they should not mess with China. They will never be able to deal with that kind of power. The US Leadership understood that they are a superpower, but not a super force. This understanding gives hope that once the Americans realize this, they will have to consider not only China and Russia. Russia is such a vast territory that they won't achieve anything with missiles. The missiles will run out faster than the territory of Russia. Iran has shown this, too. I'm not even talking about the consequences. The Middle east, the global economy and so on, they've suffered from this reckless adventure in Iran. I'm not going to discuss that. The facts are clear. They've shown that you Americans need to stop and understand that beyond US Interests, Greenland, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Panama Canal and other parts of the Western Hemisphere, there are countries with their own interests, even within your hemisphere. But Trump has done a lot bad things, as we understand, and you do, too. But he's also revealed the true face of the United States and its capabilities to the world. They are not limitless. This situation may lead to Americans being forced to consider other interests, which means that a bright future isn't far off.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

And then finally, let me share with you what Professor Morandi says. He's an Iranian professor who travels with the Iranian negotiating team. This guy is in the inner circle of the Iran negotiating team. He's there for their internal deliberations. And just so you're clear, like what the Iranians are thinking about what Donald Trump is doing. Here's the perspective from Iran. Let's play it.

[Professor Morandi]

I think that there's a significant chance that Trump is, of course, making up all this stuff, which he is that Iran agreed to this, Iran agreed to that, which is all nonsense. So that perhaps that when the. In three or four days he can say Iran promised all these things, but now they're. They've refused to abide by their commitments. Non existent commitments. You get what I'm saying? So he's saying that the Iranians have agreed to A, B, C, D, E and F. And then in two, three days, he said they promise all these things, which they didn't, but they're not doing them. So what happens next? A military assault? I think that the chances for a renewed US war against Iran are actually quite high. And I think that the language used by Trump and I may be completely wrong because Trump says lots of nonsense and he's constantly contradicting himself. He's constantly making things up. He says something one hour and then something completely different the next hour. And I've said repeatedly to people, I do try never to interpret Trump because I can't. I just don't know what goes on in his head, probably. But if one was to conclude that there is something behind these texts, it could just be another string of like crazy texts, crazy tweets or social, True social posts. But if it isn't, if they are, let's say for once we take him, say that he has some real strategy lying behind this. I would say that he's trying to make it seem like Iran agreed to something so that later on he can say that Iran refrained from carrying out what it promised to do, thus justifying another war.

[Ben (Political Commentator)]

There you have it, folks. I gave you a Trump saying. I gave you what the Iranians saying. I gave you what Lukashenko saying. I'm going to do a video in a little bit about what Europe, what Asia, what Gulf states are saying. So you have a full picture and then decide for yourself. But let's focus on the objective facts. I don't trust what Iran's saying. I trust my eyes and ears and what I'm seeing in this. Trade it for Moose. If that lines up with Iran with Iran saying, so be it. If that lines up with what Trump saying, so be it. But it ain't lining up with Trump. And then there's also just common sense. American soldiers aren't going into Iran and collecting nuclear material with Iranian soldiers. What world. What are you talking about? What does it even mean? It's not happening. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content Only [e-mail].

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