Rahm Emanuel says Iran is schooling Trump on Hormuz talks
Rahm Emanuel told Politico that Iran is "schooling" President Donald Trump on the art of negotiation, attacking his handling of ceasefire talks as fighting over the Strait of Hormuz escalated again following Iranian ship attacks and U.S. retaliatory strikes the same day Trump declared the ceasefire over. The critique from the former Chicago mayor and likely 2028 candidate matters because roughly one-fifth of global oil moves through the waterway and prices have swung with each flare-up.
Key Takeaways
- Rahm Emanuel said Iran is "schooling" Trump on negotiation tactics amid renewed Hormuz conflict.
- He proposed UN-linked transit fees and long-term oil routes that bypass the strait entirely.
- Trump declared the ceasefire over after ship attacks but said talks with Iran continue.
- AP-NORC and Pew surveys show deepening U.S. divisions on Israel, Gaza and regional policy.
- Oil prices fell after the initial ceasefire, then rebounded as strikes resumed this week.
What did Rahm Emanuel say about Trump's Iran negotiations?
In a Politico interview with Gordon Repinski on July 10, Rahm Emanuel argued Trump is reacting erratically because Tehran has outmaneuvered him at the bargaining table. "They're teaching him and schooling him on the art of the negotiation," he said, as the president announced that the ceasefire was over following Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and subsequent U.S. strikes.
Trump said Friday that talks with Iran continue despite the fighting. Emanuel, a former Obama chief of staff, dismissed the approach and warned that any deal allowing Iran control over Hormuz transit would simply invite repeat crises.
What is Emanuel's plan for the Strait of Hormuz?
Emanuel insisted the strait must not become what he called an "Iranian waterway." Instead, he suggested asking the United Nations-associated International Maritime Association to charge transit fees that would go to all nations affected by the war, including Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar, for several years until permanent protocols are set.
"Not a fee that Iran charges for Iran," he added. "Absolutely not." Long term, he said regional countries should develop oil routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely. "If Iran does this once, you could solve it today, but trust me, you're not solving it permanently," he told Politico.
How divided are Americans on the Middle East?
As Emanuel sharpened his attack on Trump's Iran strategy, fresh polling showed how split public opinion remains. A July AP-NORC survey found sharp divides among U.S. Jews over Israel and Gaza, with religious and secular Jews diverging on whether Israel's Gaza operations are justified.
Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey of 12,574 adults conducted in May 2026 found Americans' views of Israelis have grown more negative since 2022, dropping from 67% favorable to 52%, while views of Palestinians held steady at about 50% favorable.
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