Unbothered by Reality, Trump Gives Disjointed Update on Iran War

President Trump delivered a 19-minute address Wednesday night on the month-long U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, claiming "decisive, overwhelming victory" while simultaneously threatening escalation over the next two to three weeks. His remarks contradicted themselves on key points—he predicted the Strait of Hormuz would "open up naturally" while later demanding Middle Eastern oil buyers protect the passage themselves, and he declared Iran "no longer a threat" despite the regime surviving and Iranian forces closing the strait to most oil freighters. According to CNN polling, only one-third of Americans believe Trump has a clear plan for Iran, approval for the strikes has dropped to 34 percent in a month, and 71 percent of Americans oppose the White House's request for $200 billion in war funding. Trump avoided mentioning NATO or potential U.S. ground troops—both subjects he has previously signaled could change if allies don't join the assault on Iran—a silence that will draw scrutiny as his political base fractures over his shift away from non-interventionism. The speech offered no acknowledgment of economic costs, instead citing Wall Street records while dismissing spiking energy prices as a brief blip.