‘Schoolyard bully’: UVA professor slams Trump’s threatening rhetoric on U.S.-Iran conflict

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- After President Donald Trump warned that a "whole civilization will die tonight" amid the U.S.-Iran conflict, a University of Virginia (UVA) professor at the Miller Center compared the president's rhetoric to that of a "schoolyard bully."

On Tuesday, April 7, 8News spoke with Barbara Perry, the J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance at the Miller Center at UVA, about the president's rhetoric, war crimes and historical comparisons ahead of his desired 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m. CST deadline to strike a deal with Iran.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump threatened that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal, which would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump previously threatened to strike Iranian energy infrastructure and power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened.

Since the start of the war on Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes, Trump has imposed deadlines linked to supposed threats, only to extend them. This time, the president said this one is final and will expire at 8 p.m. EST Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Perry argued that Trump frequently uses extreme, all-or-nothing language, describing it as both theatrical and coercive in negotiations.

Even prior to the April 7 deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the U.S. hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, marking the second time American forces hit the island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Despite exaggeration, Perry said Trump's words should be taken seriously, particularly given past events -- such as the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., which has been described as an incitement to insurrection and violent obstruction of a democratic process.

Perry emphasized that his statements may be considered strategic threats meant to pressure adversaries into compliance.

“He tends to exaggerate and use superlatives to describe everything -- and also everything is either the best or the worst," Perry told 8News. "There’s kind of a schoolyard bully element to it, of not only bullying individuals or members of the press, but now an entire country and an entire civilization.”

If Trump's comments are interpreted as destroying a people or culture, Perry said it could approach genocide, which is illegal under global law.

“It could mean … that he would start bombing the civilian elements of bridges, infrastructure, water plants, electric plants," she said. "Which, if it doesn’t cross the line, certainly borders on war crimes … [because] we’re not supposed to engage in that kind of attacks on civilian infrastructure.”

With discussion of potential U.S. strikes on Iran's infrastructure plants and bridges, Perry drew a comparison to the Vietnam War, particularly the U.S. bombing campaign "Operation Rolling Thunder" from 1965 until 1968. She argued that, despite extensive bombing, the campaign did not achieve strategic goals.

“You can try to destroy people’s will," Perry said. "You can try to destroy their infrastructure. But when people have a belief that is so strong, it only intensifies the belief … bombing Iran into the stone ages would not end Islam in Iran.”

Perry also questioned the rationale for conflict and argued that claims about Iran's proximity to developing a nuclear weapon are contested and may be overstated.

“We’re basing this entire war on falsehoods," Perry said. "The falsehood was that Iran was very near constructing a nuclear weapon and those who have spoken out about intelligence have indicated that this entire war is based on a fallacy.”

Perry said organizations like the United Nations were created after World War II to prevent such escalations. However, they are described as limited in enforcement power, mostly able to condemn and prosecute after the fact, according to Perry.

She further commented on how the impact of the war has escalated both locally and globally, citing the oil supply, gas prices and inflation.

In the Greater Richmond Region and across Virginia, gas prices have remained at $4 per gallon since they passed the mark less than a week ago.

Regular gas prices averaged $4.06 across the Commonwealth as of Monday, April 6, up about 18 cents from last week’s $3.89. Gas prices this time last year averaged $3.08 in the state.

Leaders react to Trump's threat

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) issued the following statement in response to Trump's threat:

"There is never any justification to conduct war crimes against civilians. They are a stain on our national conscience and breed more extremism and hate that make us less safe. The Senate Majority Leader must immediately call the Senate back to DC so we can address this crisis."

Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) also issued the following statement in response to Trump's threat:

“The president has engaged in activates that experts are describing as war crimes in Iran and other parts of the world over the past few months. Republicans in Congress have refused to rein him in, and earlier today he threatened to obliterate the Iranian people. Genocide is a war crime.

The Joint Chiefs and all military personnel must be aware they can be held accountable long into the future for war crimes that are committed in the present.”