(Substack)—President Trump is hesitant to bomb Iran because he worries it could lead to chaos like in Libya after its leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown in 2011, according to people close to his administration. They told The Post that Trump is delaying his decision on joining Israel’s airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear program for up to two weeks.
Trump has mentioned Libya’s descent into disorder after the U.S. and NATO bombed the country to remove Gaddafi, three sources said. “Trump doesn’t want it to turn into Libya,” one insider explained, referring to the administration’s talks about possibly supporting Israel’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.
On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is waiting because “there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi will meet with European officials in Geneva on Friday, but Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, won’t attend, though he’s been talking to Iran separately, Leavitt added.
One source heard Trump privately say he’s concerned about Iran becoming like Libya before Israel started its airstrikes. Others were told he mentioned Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq after the conflict began. A fifth source, briefed on Trump’s thoughts, said he’s leaning toward limited U.S. airstrikes using 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz, which Israel’s jets can’t carry.
“Libya was a much more extended kind of bombing commitment, and it ended up being regime change,” the fifth source noted. “If the regime falls [in Iran], then it’s not on Trump, because that’s not the goal of his very limited strike.” They also worried that “we get somebody worse than Khamenei.” The source added, “As far as President Trump goes, he’s not going to get in the business of who runs Iran, that’s very salable to his base.”
If the U.S. uses bunker busters, one source said, “there is still dealing with Iran’s response,” including fears of contamination or Iran retaliating with terrorism. “He’d rather have a deal,” the source told The Post.
Another source who heard Trump directly said, “There are two reasons Trump talks about Libya: the first is the chaos after what we did to Gaddafi. The second is the Libya intervention made it more difficult to negotiate deals with countries like North Korea and Iran.”
Israel’s defense minister called Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei “the modern Hitler” on Thursday, saying, “The IDF has been instructed and knows that to achieve all the objectives, without question this man should no longer continue to exist.” Later, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. role is “entirely” Trump’s choice, claiming Israel can destroy Iran’s nuclear sites without U.S. bombs. “We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities. We have the capability to do that,” Netanyahu said.
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Trump’s team is also worried about reports from the UN that Iran is enriching uranium far beyond what’s needed for civilian use, at levels “unprecedented for a non-nuclear state,” a U.S. official said. CIA Director John Ratcliffe compared Iran’s nuclear program to a football team one yard from scoring a touchdown, suggesting they’re ready to build a weapon.
Experts doubted Israel could destroy Fordow, a nuclear site deep underground, since their 2,000-pound bombs may not be strong enough. Trump often points to Libya, where Gaddafi, who ruled for 42 years and gave up his nuclear program in 2003, was ousted with U.S. help. Libya then fell into chaos, with warlords, extremists, slave markets, and Islamic State violence.
Leavitt said at Thursday’s briefing, “The president is balancing a lot of viewpoints and he is listening not just to other world leaders, but to his advisors and to people here in the country and the American people too.” She shared Trump’s statement: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.” On regime change, Leavitt said, “The president’s top priority right now is to ensure that Iran can not attain a nuclear weapon and providing peace and stability to the Middle East.”
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.