‘Yeah, OK’: Trump Claims He Can End Iran War Whenever He Wants, Then Admits He’s Choosing Not to as Leaked Photos Could Make Him Eat His Words
President Donald Trump landed on a familiar theme at a rally in North Carolina. He insisted, as he has numerous times, that his war on Iran is going to “end very soon.”
His empty claims and promises come as leaked photos show the true scale of destruction on U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
The president has insisted over and over since he launched his deadly and unapproved war on Tehran in February that “we’ve won.” When that proved false, he pivoted to convincing Americans that the war is ending soon.
But tensions between Washington and the Islamic Republic remain heightened. U.S. military operations against Iran are continuing amid increasing hostilities six-and-a-half months into Trump’s conflict.
But that didn’t stop him from claiming on Wednesday, as he has before, that he could end the war anytime but chooses not to.
The president stumped in Gaston County, North Carolina, about 22 miles west of Charlotte, ahead of the upcoming midterms. While campaigning for Senate candidate Michael Whatley, he again addressed his ongoing war on Iran.
Critics say he sounded like a broken record as he repeated the same lines at the Gastonia rally.
“That war? That war is going to end very soon. Watch. You just watch,” the president insisted, doubling down on a claim he has made for months.
Then he tooted his own horn.
“Trump was right about everything. You watch. They’re getting decimated, and they want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told the crowd.
“They call, ‘We want to make a deal. We want to make.’ They’re not ready yet, I don’t think, but we could have a deal anytime we want,” he stubbornly added.
The statement seems far from the truth, opponents contend. ANI News reported earlier this week that Iranian missiles and drones struck a U.S.-contracted ship near the contested Strait of Hormuz.
And Fox News reported Iran used four drones and a missile in the strike, which damaged the ship and injured several people.
Social media called out Trump and his MAGA supporters.
“They aren’t calling. They aren’t begging for a deal. He lost,” this X poster stated.
Another agreed.
“How long is MAGA going to believe this blatant lie? He’s been saying this for 6 months. How long is soon?”
A sarcastic commenter comically pointed out the obvious. “Wow, he’s ended this war like 87 times; that Nobel Peace Prize is a shoo-in.”
Others chimed in. “It’s been ending, and they have been wanting to make a deal now for months….. yeah, ok.”
Not only does Trump’s war on Tehran seem far from over, but the costs and damages are also astounding.
CBS News obtained exclusive photos it published Tuesday, showing extensive damage at U.S. bases in the Middle East. The pictures show how Iran missile and drone attacks have damaged and destroyed buildings and vehicles.
An American service member sent the photos to the news outlet on the condition of anonymity.
“This is major damage to our bases that hasn’t been communicated to the American public,” a deployed military member told CBS. “We’re standing there with our eyes closed getting punched in the face.”
Also this week, a damning new report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General showed the massive costs of Trump’s war.
The report only covers a four-month period after Trump first launched the war on Feb. 28. It estimated the cost for the four-month period between February and June at $33.4 billion.
Defense Chief Pete Hegseth, who is facing articles of impeachment in the House, admitted to Congress last month that the true cost of the war is more than $42 billion. That was more than a $4.5 billion increase from his previous estimates, according to The Hill.
In fact, one expert the news outlet spoke to estimated the true cost at upwards of $100 billion.
Some of the costs include damaged and destroyed aircraft, ships and equipment. The Daily Beast reported that more than $22 billion has been spent on munitions amid fears of depleted stockpiles.
