American economist and Johns Hopkins University professor Steve Hanke has claimed that US President Donald Trump has been strategically outmaneuvered in the ongoing tensions with Iran, suggesting that Washington currently has limited options in the escalating situation.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Hanke wrote that “Iran has Trump cornered,” adding that the US president is effectively “checkmated” in the geopolitical standoff.

Earlier, Hanke had criticized Trump’s economic and foreign policy approach, arguing that tariffs and a preference for military escalation were negatively impacting the US economy. He pointed to declining consumer confidence, citing the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index, which he said had fallen to historic lows.

He described the combination of tariffs and conflict-driven policy as “bad news for the US economy,” warning that investor and consumer sentiment were weakening amid rising uncertainty.

Hanke’s remarks triggered strong reactions online. Some users accused him of leaning toward left-leaning political views, while others argued that responsibility for current US actions extends beyond the president alone.

Commenters noted that Congress is also playing a significant role in shaping policy, with some pointing out that there is already sufficient political backing to potentially invoke the 25th Amendment.

They further argued that the situation should not be viewed solely as Trump’s individual policy direction, but rather as part of broader US government decision-making.