It’s not so much that there is an eagerness abroad in the press for an American defeat in its ongoing war against the theocratic regime in Tehran. If, however, Donald Trump is sufficiently humiliated at the end of this campaign, it seems that, for some, an American defeat is acceptable collateral damage.

What other conclusion could you draw from the American press corps’ reaction to Trump’s announcement on Monday morning that he will delay for five days his promised attacks on Iranian power plants following “in-depth, detailed, and constructive” talks with Iranian representatives? The statement resulted in a stampede of journalists ...