Skip to evidence
Back

America First Audit

He said it in public. These are the documents on what happened next. Browse all records.

Why these cases

Trump sold “America First.” This record traces how public money, power, and risk moved toward family businesses, donors, favored firms, and foreign governments: and what workers, ranchers, retirees, patients, veterans, and small investors were left to absorb.

Said vs. done

Find a case
Case 225 of 254

The Iran Reversal

Actions
documentedAt Trump's order, U.S. Central Command struck Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities with cruise missiles and fourteen GBU-57 bombs.U.S. Department of DefenseBrown University Costs of WarRead record · 2 sources
Outcomes
reportedIran ordered suspension of cooperation with the IAEA after the U.S. and Israeli strikes, reducing inspection access even as the strikes damaged nuclear infrastructure.Associated PressArms Control AssociationRead record · 2 sources
People and impacts
Who gained
  • United States Central Command
Who paid or was affected
  • IAEA safeguards and inspectors
  • Iranian public
  • United States taxpayers

Amounts and affected parties

  1. public costModeled FY2025 operation and related-defense cost, lowApproximately $2.039 billion (low scenario)
    Estimated public spending source
    United States taxpayers
    Loss or cost borne by
    United States Department of Defense
    estimated · 2025-10-07 · observedRead source record
    Calculation detailsPopulation United States taxpayers; United States Central Command; IAEA safeguards and inspectors; Iranian publicPeriod 2025-06-13 to 2025-06-24Basis Use Costs of War Table 4 lower bound for strike operations, preparations, Al Udeid defense, and THAAD defense of Israel; do not present as direct-strike-only cost.Limits Open-source unit-cost model; includes related defenses and excludes classified or unavailable costs.
  2. public costModeled FY2025 operation and related-defense cost, highApproximately $2.255 billion (high scenario)
    Estimated public spending source
    United States taxpayers
    Loss or cost borne by
    United States Department of Defense
    estimated · 2025-10-07 · observedRead source record
    Calculation detailsPopulation United States taxpayers; United States Central Command; IAEA safeguards and inspectors; Iranian publicPeriod 2025-06-13 to 2025-06-24Basis Use Costs of War Table 4 upper bound for the same cost population as the low scenario; never add the scenarios.Limits Open-source unit-cost model; high scenario is an alternative, not incremental spending.
Promise and assessment
The promise
documentedThe platform promised to prevent world war, restore peace in the Middle East, and seek peace while standing with Israel.The American Presidency ProjectRead record · 1 source

Promise reversed

Trump's administration went from a peace pledge to direct offensive force and did physical damage, while the observable inspection outcome moved away from verified constraint. The longer-term nuclear effect was unresolved at the anchor period.

Latest additions