Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder and early Trump backer, publicly criticizes Iran war

Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir and one of the first sponsors of Trump, has publicly turned against the president, harshly criticizing the U.S. military campaign against Iran.

According to POLITICO, which obtained a recording of the billionaire's private speech, this move marks the most serious and explicit rift between Trump and a key foreign policy ally.

"I am skeptical of [this war], I think we should not have started it. Many mistakes have been made."

Speaking at a private event in Nashville, Peter Thiel stated directly that Washington may simply lack the military strength to win. In his view, the U.S. risks losing to Iran the global struggle for influence and 'soft power'.

The leak of the audio recording occurred at the most vulnerable moment for the White House — less than two weeks before the midterm elections in Congress. The prolonged war with Iran has already divided Republicans and threatens their chances of maintaining a majority, as Trump has effectively broken his key promise not to drag the U.S. into new endless conflicts in the Middle East.

Peter Thiel has historically been the chief financial mentor of Vice President J.D. Vance. Earlier, it became known to the press that Vance himself, before the start of hostilities, was extremely skeptical about the idea of striking Iran. Now, with Vance's main backer openly criticizing the White House, Trump's position within his own team appears even more shaky.