It was just last week when Donald Trump published a notable new threat on his social media platform, as part of the president’s expanding policy toward the war with Iran. “I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY!” he wrote. “This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale.”

In the same online statement, the Republican said he would impose “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences” on “ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran.” He added, “Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are. This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY.”

It quickly became obvious that the president’s threat was largely meaningless, and the administration’s new policy amounted to little more than another underwhelming threat.

But at a White House event on Thursday afternoon, the problem became even more glaring.

After Trump peddled some familiar but highly dubious claims about U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, a reporter asked him whether he intends to punish Vladimir Putin and Russia over Moscow’s ongoing business with Iran.

“Well, it depends, it depends,” the Republican replied. “So far, I think Russia’s behaved quite well having to do with the Strait of Hormuz. And you have to understand, for everything they do, we do also, you know. Somebody was saying about China, ‘What about China? We hear they’re spying.’ We spy on them too; that’s the way it goes.”

Even by Trump standards, this was pitiful. As recently as last week, NBC News reported that Russia is “shipping drone components, ammunition and TNT to Iran through the Caspian Sea,” adding, “The Russian shipments, which have not been previously reported, underscore the deepening strategic alliance between Moscow and Tehran. With both countries embroiled in separate wars, they have stepped up their cooperation as they confront a common enemy in the U.S.”

This dovetailed with several months’ worth of reporting about Putin’s regime and its extensive aid to Iran during the U.S. war.

Instead of acting on this, Trump has largely defended Russia, accepted Putin’s denials at face value, and as recently as Thursday, praised Russia for having “behaved quite well.”

What we’re dealing with, in other words, is an instance in which the American president drew a red line: Trump issued a public declaration, in writing, that vowed “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences” on “ANY country” that partners with Iran.

Eight days later, asked if he’s prepared to punish Russia or China for having partnered with Iran, the Republican replied, “It depends.”

The Washington Post reported a day later that there’s “fresh U.S. intelligence indicating that the Kremlin sees the United States as weakened by the Iran war.” Trump’s willingness to signal abject weakness isn’t likely to help.

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