US President Donald Trump has again faced criticism for the use of heightened rhetoric in handling the Iranian conflict.
In the hours leading to the current ceasefire, President Trump warned ‘a civilisation will die’ if a deal wasn’t reached.
Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson told the ABC this morning, he couldn’t imagine himself or any Australian Prime Minister using the language of President Trump.
But Senator Paterson says it may have contributed to securing a ceasefire.
“Speaking about it analytically and dispassionately, it’s clear the US President has been threatening to escalate in order to de-escalate and it may be the reason that there is a ceasefire agreement, albeit a shaky one.”
This justification has been dismissed by the largest Muslim civil liberties organisation in the United States.
Hussam Ayloush, the CEO of the Council of American-Islamic Relations in California says suggestions Donald Trump is playing ‘the long game’ isn’t a good justification.
TheWire spoke with Mr Ayloush this morning, just 24 hours after the ceasefire began in Iran.
So how have U-S citizens reacted to President Trump’s comments and threats?
Catch the full interview in tomorrow’s edition of the From Pillar to Post podcast.
Image: Protest against the Trump Muslim ban in 2018 | Fibonacci Blue
Produced By: Noah Secomb
Featured In Story: Hussam Ayloush – Centre for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), California branch CEO
First aired on The Wire, Thursday, 9 April 2026