The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

Trump, in a self-imposed delusional corner, calls the Iran War an “excursion” that is “going along swimmingly.” Tell that to the hundreds of dead and wounded U.S. troops and the thousands of other dead and wounded in the Middle East. Same with the economy: “White House shrugs off money woes” (NYT). Trump said: “There is a hit … but it’s (economy) going to recover, I think, fully somehow.” Magical thinking. But perhaps in desperation Trump will end his political jam.

U.S. inflation is surging. Gas is near $4 per gallon in Wisconsin and above nationally. Mortgage rates are up as are groceries and airfares. Farmers losing markets because of Trump’s tariff wars, now face soaring diesel fuel and fertilizer costs imposed by the Iran War. Moreover, the International Monetary Fund warned that the Iran War and its disruption of oil supply could lead to global inflation and recession. Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin reprimanded Trump: “Wisconsinites want cheaper groceries, gas, and healthcare – not tens of billions of dollars spent on an illegal war of choice.”

However, the White House refuses to estimate the cost of the Iran War. Russell Vought, Trump’s budget director, stonewalled Congress, despite the Pentagon’s asking for $200 billion for the Iran War. Already, congressional Republicans led by Trump are calling for cuts in healthcare and other critical domestic spending to pay for the war and much more military spending.

Following along the path of not paying for the Iraq and Afghan wars, Trump and Republicans oppose raising taxes to pay for the Iran War. It’s long past time to heed former Wisconsin Democratic Representative Dave Obey: “If we don’t address the cost of this war (Iraq), we will continue shoving billions of dollars in taxes off on future generations and will devour money that could be used to rebuild our economy.” It’s time for the wealthy and corporations to pony up. Regular folks are paying by disproportionately sending their children into the military.

It’s hard to know what comes next. The ceasefire is fragile, and Trump is sending thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East while talking “peace” and war. Meanwhile, Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth threaten Iran with more bombing of civilian infrastructure. Where’s Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson? Hegseth also maligned the press, “comparing them to the Pharisees who criticized Jesus of Nazareth for performing miracles” (NYT). This incompetent bigot must go.

As the war of choice grinds on and the economy tilts downward, Trump makes time to engage in blasphemous behavior: comparing himself to Jesus, attacking Pope Leo, moving ahead with a D.C. arch to honor himself (something out of Pyongyang, North Korea) and tearing down part of the White House to rebuild in his grandiose image with no congressional authorization or appropriation. Instead, it’s being paid for by big corporate donors, including foreign steel from ArcelorMittal (got a tariff exemption).

Time for a midterm correction in November. Bring out the big brooms, there’s a lot to sweep away after the elephants. 

Kaplan wrote a guest column from Washington, D.C., for the Wisconsin State Journal from 1995 – 2009.