While his top diplomat claimed that Israel was the reason behind the timing of the US military strike, President Donald Trump warned on Monday of a protracted battle with Iran and refused to rule out the employment of ground forces.
Following two Truth Social videos and a series of somewhat conflicting phone conversations to media outlets, Trump’s brief remarks at the White House were his first in public since initiating the strikes.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments about Israel later added to the mixed messaging about the war, launched by a president who long campaigned against US entanglements in the Middle East.
Speaking at the beginning of a medal ceremony at the White House, Trump reiterated that he had to attack, claiming that it was the “last, best chance” to take on Washington’s longtime adversary.
The 79-year-old Republican stated that activities were currently proceeding ahead of schedule, but he also cautioned that a protracted conflict might occur.
“We have the capacity to go much longer than that, but from the start we projected four to five weeks,” Trump stated.
Additionally, the US president outlined four specific objectives for Operation Epic Fury for the first time.
“We are first destroying Iran’s missile capabilities.Secondly, we are destroying their fleet.Thirdly, we’re making sure that the leading sponsor of terrorism in the world is never able to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he stated.
“At last, we are making sure the Iranian government is unable to support, arm, and lead terrorist groups outside of their borders.”
“Very wise”
Although Trump had not previously made such a claim, Rubio later claimed that Trump’s “very wise” choice was made after discovering that Israel was preparing to strike and worrying Tehran would respond against US forces.
“We anticipated an Israeli action. Rubio told reporters, “We knew that would lead to an attack against American forces, and we knew that we would suffer more casualties if we didn’t go after them before they launched those attacks.”
When asked if Iran posed an immediate threat to the United States, a crucial question given that Congress has the constitutional authority to authorize war, Rubio once more brought up the Israeli intentions.
In contrast to previous presidents, Trump has refrained from holding any significant public speeches or news conferences to justify the war—the largest US conflict in the Middle East in 20 years.
Rather, he has made quick phone calls to a number of media organizations.
In an interview with the New York Post on Monday, he declined to rule out the possibility of US forces entering Iran.
This could result in considerably more losses than the six service men who have been slain thus far.
Using a golf expression meaning nervousness, Trump remarked, “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground.” “Every president declares that there won’t be any boots on the ground.” I don’t say it.
Additionally, Trump discussed what he claimed would be an intensification of the attack on Iran in an interview with CNN on Monday. He declared, “The big wave hasn’t even happened.” “The big one will arrive soon.”
The remainder of Trump’s administration remained mute until Monday morning, when Pentagon director Pete Hegseth and senior US military official Dan Caine held a press conference. Hegseth also hinted that sending soldiers inside Iran was still a possibility.
Hegseth responded to a question about whether boots were already on the ground during the press conference by saying, “No, but we’re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.”
Hegseth argued that unlike previous protracted US conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, this one will not linger on.
“This isn’t Iraq. Iraq veteran Hegseth stated, “This is not endless.”
Members of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, who supported his promises to put an end to foreign wars, were critical of his near-complete silence on the reasons and objectives in Iran.
Over the past 24 hours, however, the White House has been attempting to clarify its messaging.
Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded on Monday to a MAGA critic on social media by stating that Trump has set “clear objectives.”
