Iran 'Schooling' Trump, Says Rahm Emanuel, Potential 2028 Presidential Candidate

Rahm Emanuel, a likely 2028 presidential candidate, said Iran is outmaneuvering President Trump in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz. Emanuel proposed charging transit fees that benefit all regional nations rather than Iran alone, while also calling for long term oil routes that bypass the strait entirely.

Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor widely seen as a likely 2028 presidential contender, says Iran has been outmaneuvering President Trump at the negotiating table, even as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz threaten to spiral back into open conflict.

Emanuel shared his views in an interview with Politico, laying out both his read on the Hormuz standoff and his broader assessment of where things stand between the US and NATO. The timing was notable. The interview took place the same day Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over, following Iranian attacks on ships passing through the strait and a subsequent round of US strikes in response.

According to Emanuel, Trump’s erratic behavior throughout the standoff comes down to one thing: Iran getting the better of him at the bargaining table. He said Trump is acting the way he is because Tehran is effectively teaching him a lesson in negotiation, turning the tables on a president who has long prided himself on deal making.

“They’re teaching him and schooling him on the art of the negotiation,” Emanuel said. Despite the collapsed ceasefire and continued fighting, Trump said Friday that talks with Iran are still ongoing.

Much of Emanuel’s focus centered on keeping oil flowing smoothly through the strait, a waterway that carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply. That flow has become increasingly uncertain amid the latest violence. Oil prices had eased after the initial ceasefire was first announced, but they climbed back up this week as strikes resumed.

He was direct about what this proposal is not. Emanuel, who previously served as chief of staff under President Barack Obama, made clear he isn’t suggesting Iran alone should be allowed to charge and pocket fees for its own benefit.

He explained that building this kind of resilience is essential because even if the current standoff gets resolved, it won’t be a permanent fix. According to Emanuel, if Iran shuts down the strait once and gets away with it, there’s nothing stopping the country from doing the exact same thing again down the road.

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