Trump pulls back from the brink... but for how long?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 8 April 2026
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Donald Trump’s MAGA base - and the Republican party - are divided over his threats to wipe out an entire civilisation. In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Sarah unpack how we got from Trump’s annihilistic threats to the start of a two week ceasefire and new claims from the US president, that Iran will stop enriching uranium.
With both sides claiming victory, what are Donald Trump’s options now for ending the war, and how big a factor is keeping the support of his MAGA Republican base? With several prominent influencers and MAGA supporters speaking out against Trump, and the war, the Americast team look at who Trump is listening to in the Republican party, and what influences him.
We also look at the bigger issues around what happens now with the Strait of Hormuz and reports that Trump has also suggested the US could impose its own tolls on vessels in transit through the channel.
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:06.0 | Donald Trump invented a brink and then pulled back from his own brink. |
| 0:10.8 | Is this genius or something else? This was the threat. |
| 0:14.3 | We have a plan because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock |
| 0:25.3 | tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business burning, exploding, |
| 0:33.0 | and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition by 12 o'clock. |
| 0:38.2 | And it'll happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to. |
| 0:41.3 | In the end, he didn't want to. It greatly upset, though, not only people around the world, |
| 0:45.5 | but also some of his key supporters who are also wondering now whether they still support |
| 0:52.2 | the war that he started. |
| 0:54.7 | Can he carry on without them? |
| 0:57.1 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 1:00.8 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:04.0 | You hear that sound? |
| 1:05.1 | Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. |
| 1:08.8 | We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, |
| 1:11.8 | we are finishing it. This is a big cover-up, and this administration is engaged in it. This guy has |
| 1:17.0 | Trump-orangement syndrome. I have four words for you. Turn the volume up. Hello, it's Sarah here in the BBC's Washington Bureau. |
| 1:30.5 | And it's Anthony, right next to Sarah here in Washington, D.C. |
| 1:33.4 | And it's just in holding the fort in the worldwide headquarters of AmeriCast in London, England. |
| 1:38.6 | And I should say as well that the time, because events are moving, aren't there? |
| 1:42.5 | Events are moving fast. |
... |
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