In a return to form for the Trump administration over the weekend, President Donald Trump and his secretary of defense reminded the world of what a strong United States looks like.
And, let’s just say things don’t look good for our enemies.
It began on Friday night when Trump announced the U.S. had killed top ISIS leader Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai.
“Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed,” wrote Trump, without bothering to mention the dead terrorist’s name. “He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.”
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Rifai was killed on Thursday in a precision airstrike. He was wearing a suicide vest at the time of his death.
Watch:
CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Chief of Global Operations Who Also Served as ISIS #2
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
On March 13, U.S. Central Command forces, in cooperation with Iraqi Intelligence and Security Forces, conducted a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, that killed the Global ISIS #2 leader,… pic.twitter.com/rWeEoUY7Lw
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called Rifai “one of the most dangerous terrorists” and described his death as an “impressive [victory] over the forces of darkness and terrorism.”
But if Rifai’s sudden departure left our enemies quaking in their boots, the nightmare had only just begun.
On Saturday, the U.S. launched airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthis, who have attacked American ships and disrupted global shipping lanes in retaliation for the war in Gaza. CENTCOM released several breathtaking videos of the operation, which the Houthis condemned as a “war crime.”
Watch:
CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue... pic.twitter.com/DYvc3gREN8
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
Following the attack, Trump issued a lengthy, threatening statement, urging the Houthis to renounce their “unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other, ships, aircraft, and drone” or face the wrath of America’s armed forces.
“The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated,” he stated. “We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective.”
“To all Houthi terrorists,” the commander-in-chief declared, “YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”
Defense Secretary and Convention of States (COS) endorser Pete Hegseth backed the president, vowing, “The minute the Houthis say, ‘we’ll stop shooting at your ships, we’ll stop shooting at your drones,’ this campaign will end. But until then, it will be unrelenting.”
Additionally, Hegseth notified Iran, which backs the Houthis and has repeatedly threatened “death to America,” it must immediately disband its nuclear program.
“They will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” he said. “We hope they give it up peaceably … because the alternative doesn’t look good for anybody.”
He added that Trump will apply “maximum pressure” to “bankrupt the Iranians” and ensure “they do not get a bomb.”
That’s what true strength looks like. Strong nations don’t appease rogue regimes with cash and concessions in exchange for fleeting promises of good behavior. That’s not the way to lead. President Trump and Hegseth understand that, and they’re working to restore peace through strength, not just in the Middle East, but around the world.
For far too long, Americans have been confused about the purpose of peace through strength. Millions now subscribe to the dangerously callow notion that if only we all had tea together, talked about our feelings, and said nice things about each other, our enemies would repent of their evilness in sackcloth and ashes.
It won’t happen.
It’s naive to assume that, while the wolf is on the hunt, we can somehow talk him into making peace with the lamb. The only way to bring the wolf to the table is by making him fear and respect us. He must know we mean business.
As Ronald Reagan advised, we must “have the courage to say to our enemies, ‘There is a price we will not pay. There is a point beyond which they must not advance.’” Those who dare to fight back when the enemy crosses that line are frequently accused of “war-mongering.” But what’s the alternative? Lying down and letting him walk all over us, hoping that politely petitioning for mercy will make him stop? If that’s your perspective, the millions of victims of history’s bloodiest regimes denounce your folly.
President Trump is making it clear for the world to hear: America will not beg for peace while its head is in the tiger’s mouth. There’s a new sheriff in town, and the buck stops here.
Four years of turmoil left both our enemies and allies asking, “Who’s in charge? Who leads the free world?” Trump came roaring back with a resounding answer: The United States of America. That’s who.
