The joint military campaign with Israel was launched on February 28 to target Iranian facilities, including the use of B-2 bombers against nuclear sites. Trump argued that the operations will soon conclude successfully and warned of further devastation if Tehran does not capitulate. According to official Pentagon tallies, 23 American service members have died and hundreds more have sustained wounds throughout the conflict. Meanwhile, ongoing military actions continue to create domestic fallout, hurting Republican performances in legislative midterm races.
Key points
The administration remains committed to achieving total victory rather than settling for…: The administration remains committed to achieving total victory rather than settling for a partial resolution.
Projections from the president suggest it will take Iran 25 years to rebuild its degraded…: Projections from the president suggest it will take Iran 25 years to rebuild its degraded capabilities.
The prolonged overseas campaign has created severe domestic political challenges and legi…: The prolonged overseas campaign has created severe domestic political challenges and legislative midterm setbacks for Republicans.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said the United States did not start the war with Iran, asserting that Tehran had been waging war against Washington since 1979.
Defending his administration's military campaign, he said the US wanted to secure a "total victory" rather than settle for a partial outcome.
Speaking at the 2026 National Veterans Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump said the United States had fought back against Iran and claimed that American military operations had significantly damaged the country's capabilities.
"America did not start a war with Iran. Iran has been waging war in America since 1979. This should have been taken care of a long time ago," Trump said.
Defending his administration's approach to the conflict in West Asia, the US President said Washington had responded militarily and emerged victorious, but stressed that the objective was to achieve a complete outcome.
"Under this administration and it was about time somebody fought back. All of us fought back. We fought back and we seriously fought back and we won.
House Republicans derailed an effort to remove Pete Hegseth by sending the resolution to the Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the charges for the rest of the term. The failed effort prompted intense internal and public outrage after nearly a dozen minority lawmakers skipped the roll call. The procedural loss has intensified scrutiny on party leadership ahead of the next congressional session.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia may soon accelerate as international partners convene for high-level discussions. Ukrainian leadership identified a potential timeframe to secure major progress at the negotiating table ahead of 2027. The development coincides with crucial bilateral engagements planned abroad alongside key Western allies.
A sharp institutional clash is brewing ahead of the transfer of congressional power on January 3, with executive officials warning that anticipated Democratic inquiries exceed constitutional boundaries. The administration claims incoming committee leaders are attempting to unlawfully intimidate staff, while Democratic lawmakers insist their oversight authority remains fully protected. This dispute sets the stage for protracted legal and political warfare once the new legislative session begins.