February 28, 2025. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, visits his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House. The host gave a historical review to his visitor, criticizing his position in the peace negotiations with Russia (his invader, if we must remember) and practically blaming him for the war. Trump told Zelensky: “You don’t hold all the cards.” Since then, that phrase has become an oft-repeated phrase in foreign policy debates.
Now, the Republican has used the same quote in an image generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and disseminated on his social network, Truth Social, in which he comes to say that his geopolitical power is absolute, in this case referring to the war against Iran, which he launched more than two months ago together with Israel. “I have all the cards,” reads the message accompanying the photo. In the tycoon’s hand, six jokers from the famous UNO card game. The problem is that in UNO the one who runs out of cards wins. “It’s the dumbest statement in history,” summary on networks, where Trump has once again become fodder. meme.
This time neither a direct bombardment nor a controversial decree was needed, because with this very basic error it has caused half the Internet to laugh. And we are talking about a game that is estimated to have sold more than 150 million copies since it was invented in 1971 in the United States.
The metaphor of the defiant Trump was intended to be a coup of authority in the midst of an escalation of war with Iran, suggesting that the US has total control of the situation, especially regarding the passage of ships through the precious Strait of Hormuz, through which before the war 20% of the world’s crude oil passed. However, the shot backfired. As most children know, the objective of UNO is precisely to get rid of all the cards. Having “all” is not a sign of victory, but rather irrefutable proof that you are losing. By a landslide.
The reaction of the opposition, the Democratic Party, and users has not been long in coming. Democratic Representative Ted Lieu was one of the quickest to point out the technical (and political) error of the publication: “Dear @WhiteHouse: If Trump has everything to win, why are gas prices at record levels? Oh, of course, in UNO you win without having any cards. They should fire their social media manager,” he wrote.
Along the same lines, journalist Nick Bryant used domestic irony to underline the absurdity of the image: “I have a five-year-old son. I play Uno a lot. It is impossible to win or finish the game with these cards.” Other critics, such as political consultant Rick Wilson, preferred to focus on the aesthetics of AI with a brief but devastating: “Small hands.”
Drums of war and prices through the roof
Beyond the mockery for the lack of knowledge of Mattel’s rules, the meme lands at a critical moment. While Trump boasts of his winning “hand”, the conflict with Iran is suffocating international markets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the start of hostilities on February 28 has shot up the price of Brent crude oil to $113.65 per barrel, placing the national average for gasoline in the US at a painful $4.46 per gallon.
Trump has now announced the so-called “Project Freedom”, a military operation that will mobilize destroyers, more than 100 aircraft and 15,000 troops to “guide” the ships stranded in the strait. The ayatiolá regime, for its part, has already warned that any “aggressive” foreign force will be attacked.
On this geopolitical chess board – or of poorly played cards – Trump’s entourage continues to bet on the narrative of constant triumph. In fact, shortly after the controversial memethe White House released an hour-long loop of the president repeating the word “winning” (winning). Yesterday, May 4, Star Wars Day, he dared to add: “In a galaxy that demands strength, the United States is ready. This is the way. May the Force be with you.” Trump had become the Mandalorian and Grogu appeared at his side.
For now, in the real game against Iran, the cards are still on the table, commercially, defensively and diplomatically, and the Americans are paying dearly for them at the gas station. Achievements? Not ONE nor any.
