Politics has a long memory—but results have a way of rewriting the script. A decade ago, two men stood on a debate stage trading barbs that would echo through Republican primary lore. One called the other “low energy.” The other fired back that his opponent was a “chaos candidate” who couldn’t “insult his way to the presidency.”

That was 2015. Donald Trump and Jeb Bush seemed destined to remain permanent adversaries, their feud a fixture of GOP history. Funny how things change when someone actually delivers.

The insults were legendary. Trump mocked Bush’s family involvement in the race, reportedly quipping that “your mom can’t help you with ISIS” after Barbara Bush cut a campaign ad for her son. Bush dismissed Trump as great at one-liners but fundamentally unserious. The political class assumed these wounds would never heal—because in Washington, grudges are forever, right?

A Decade Makes a Difference

But something shifted this week. The former Florida governor, now leading the nonpartisan organization United Against Nuclear Iran alongside former Ambassador Mark Wallace, issued a statement that would have seemed unthinkable in those combative debate days.

From UANI statement by Jeb Bush and Mark Wallace:
President Trump continues to demonstrate historic leadership on Iran, with unprecedented support for the Iranian people as they face bullets for freedom. We at UANI join him in standing with the brave people of Iran.

I’ll admit—I had to read that twice. The praise didn’t stop there. Bush and Wallace credited Trump with bringing “moral clarity” that previous administrations lacked, stating that “for far too long, the United States and the West have equivocated in expressing support for the people of Iran.”

So what prompted this remarkable turnaround? Not charm. Not apologies. Actions.

Results That Speak Louder Than Rhetoric

Trump recently urged Iranian “patriots to keep protesting” via Truth Social, warning regime leaders to “save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.” More significantly, he canceled planned talks with Tehran after reports surfaced of the regime shooting protesters in the streets. No appeasement. No equivocation. Just clear American leadership.

Call me crazy, but I’m starting to notice a pattern here. The same president who brokered a peace deal returning hostages from Hamas—something the so-called experts insisted couldn’t happen—now has former rivals issuing statements of praise. Meanwhile, the establishment crowd who dismissed him spent decades accomplishing precisely nothing on Iran.

Here’s a thought Washington still can’t wrap their heads around: leadership isn’t measured by debate stage zingers or political dynasties. It’s measured by whether your actions force even your harshest critics to admit you got it right.

Jeb Bush just did exactly that. And honestly? I never thought I’d write that sentence.

Key Takeaways

• Jeb Bush praised Trump’s “historic leadership” on Iran—a stunning reversal from their bitter 2015 rivalry.
• Trump’s refusal to appease Tehran and vocal support for Iranian protesters earned bipartisan respect.
• Real results, not political dynasties, ultimately determine a leader’s legacy.
• Former critics acknowledging success signals a shifting tide toward Republican unity.

Sources: Fox News