Trump’s AI czar calls for U.S. to ‘get out’ of war and warns Iran has a ‘dead man’s switch’ that could render Gulf states almost uninhabitable
Venture capitalist David Sacks, President Donald Trump’s AI and crypto czar, has warned that the US-Israeli war on Iran could have potentially disastrous consequences if it continues.
One section All in One podcast Noting the devastation of Iran’s military, he said Friday that “we should probably find the ramp.”
“It’s a good time to declare victory and exit, and that’s clearly what the markets want to see,” Sacks added.
But he said there is a group within the Republican Party and elsewhere seeking to escalate the war, send in ground troops and seek regime change.
In fact, Trump initially hinted at regime change when the war began two weeks ago, but has since downplayed it. Meanwhile, he ordered the U.S. military to attack Kharg Island, Iran’s largest oil export point, and send 2,500 Marines from Asia to the Middle East.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sacks cited concerns about a spiral of tensions in Iran that could lead to both sides targeting each other’s oil and gas infrastructure.
He said that when it comes to this point, it will not be important to restart the energy flow by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed, because it will not be possible to restart oil and gas production.
Sacks warned that an even worse scenario could occur if the desalination plants were destroyed. They provide most of the region’s fresh water and are already being targeted.
“If you see this kind of destruction going on, you could literally make the Gulf almost uninhabitable,” he explained. “I mean, you’re not going to have enough water for 100 million people, and human beings can’t survive without water for very long. So that would be a truly catastrophic scenario, and we’re talking about destroying the Gulf countries both economically and humanely.”
Sacks pointed out that although Israel is not that vulnerable, the country has been hit hard by Iran’s attacks, adding that “Israel could be destroyed or a very large part of it could be destroyed” if the war continues for weeks or months.
In a scenario where Israel faces such a serious threat, he said, this increases the risk of further escalating the war and perhaps considering the use of nuclear weapons.
“So there are a lot of scenarios here, some really scary scenarios of where the tension could go,” Sacks continued. “And although the United States is a much more powerful country than Iran, they actually have a dead man’s wield over the economic fate of the Gulf states and potentially even beyond that.”
He said given the “terrible aspects” that further tensions could lead to, it was time to look at de-escalation, which could require a ceasefire agreement or negotiated solution.
The comments come amid reports that some administration officials are pushing Trump to seek an exit toward war as the recent rise in oil prices raises political risks.
Sources told Reuters He said economic advisers and officials told him that rising gasoline prices could quickly erode already weak domestic support for the war. But more hawkish voices are urging Trump to go ahead and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“He’s letting the hawks believe the campaign is continuing, he wants the markets to believe the war may end soon and his base to believe the tensions will be limited,” an adviser to Trump told Reuters.
This story first appeared on: Fortune.com
