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Trump’s War on Iran—In His Own Words
Trump’s War on Iran — In His Own Words
1. Why He Started the War
February 28, 2026
Quote: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world.”
Method / place: Video statement posted on Truth Social / White House video release.
Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-E7DIctrzo | https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-trumps-full-statement-on-iran-attack
February 28, 2026
Quote: “For almost 50 years, these wicked extremists have been attacking the United States while chanting the slogan ‘Death to America’ or ‘Death to Israel’ or both. They are the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
Method / place: Same video statement.
Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-E7DIctrzo | https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-trumps-full-statement-on-iran-attack
March 1, 2026
Quote: “An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American. We cannot allow a nation that raises terrorist armies to possess such weapons… Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Method / place: Video address from Mar-a-Lago, posted to social media.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/trump-says-war-with-iran-will-continue-until-all-objectives-are-achieved/ | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-video-address-iran-israel-combat-operations-continue-until-objectives-achieved/
March 2, 2026
Quote: “This was our last best chance to strike… and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime… Our country itself would be under threat.”
Method / place: Medal of Honor ceremony remarks at the White House.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-white-house/ | https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-us-war-day-3-american-deaths-israel-gulf-allies-hit-missile-strikes/
March 2, 2026
Quote: “If we didn’t do that, they would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks.”
Method / place: Phone interview with Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-israel-supreme-leader-khamenei-funeral-day-2/
March 2, 2026
Quote: Iran’s missile program was growing “rapidly and dramatically” and would soon be capable of striking the United States.
Method / place: White House remarks.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-us-war-day-3-american-deaths-israel-gulf-allies-hit-missile-strikes/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “Within a week they were going to attack us, 100%.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-khamenei-03-09-2026
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2. Whether the War Is Over, Nearly Over, Won, or Not Over
March 1, 2026
Quote: “Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Method / place: Video address.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/trump-says-war-with-iran-will-continue-until-all-objectives-are-achieved/
March 2, 2026
Quote: The operation could “take four weeks or less.”
Method / place: Interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-israel-supreme-leader-khamenei-funeral-day-2/
March 2, 2026
Quote: The U.S. has the capability “to go far longer than that.”
Method / place: White House remarks.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-white-house/
March 2, 2026
Quote: “We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections.”
Method / place: White House remarks.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-white-house/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much… If you look, they have nothing left. There’s nothing left in a military sense.”
Method / place: CBS News phone interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “Wrapping up is all in my mind, nobody else’s.”
Method / place: Same CBS News interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “We’re very far ahead of schedule.”
Method / place: Same CBS News interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 17, 2026
Quote: “We’re not ready to leave yet… but we will be leaving in pretty much the very near future.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-us-will-leave-iran-operation-very-near-future-2026-03-17/
3. Objectives of the War
February 28, 2026
Quote: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats…”
Method / place: Video statement.
Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-E7DIctrzo
March 2, 2026
Quote: “This was our last best chance… eliminate intolerable threats…”
Method / place: White House remarks.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-white-house/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “I will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe’s oil supply.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-khamenei-03-09-2026
March 9, 2026
Quote: The U.S. “could do a lot” about the Strait of Hormuz and was “thinking about taking it over.”
Method / place: CBS News interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 13, 2026
Quote: “Totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”
Method / place: Social media statement.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-13-2026
March 13, 2026
Quote: “Should Iran… interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
Method / place: Same statement.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-13-2026
4. Assessing the Risk of Retaliation
March 11–12, 2026
Quote: “No, I’m not,” response to reporters on fear of attacks by Iran on U.S. soil
Method / place: Response to reporters.
Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-he-is-not-worried-about-iran-backed-attacks-us-soil-2026-03-11/
March 16, 2026
Quote: In response to questions about risk of retaliation by Iran against regional neighbors, “Nobody expected that. We were shocked.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-was-warned-likely-iranian-retaliation-gulf-allies-sources-say-2026-03-17/
March 16, 2026
Quote: “Nobody… The greatest experts, nobody thought they were going to hit.”
Method / place: Same remarks.
Links: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-was-warned-likely-iranian-retaliation-gulf-allies-sources-say-2026-03-17/
5. Future Conduct of the War
March 1, 2026
Quote: “Combat operations continue… until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Method / place: Video address.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/trump-says-war-with-iran-will-continue-until-all-objectives-achieved/
March 1, 2026
Quote: “Lay down your arms… or face certain death… take back your country.”
Method / place: Same video address.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-video-address-iran-israel-combat-operations-continue-until-objectives-achieved/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran and you’d never hear the name again.”
Method / place: CBS News interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 13, 2026
Quote: “Should Iran… interfere… I will immediately reconsider” sparing oil infrastructure.
Method / place: Social media statement.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-13-2026
March 14, 2026
Quote: The United States might hit Kharg Island again “just for fun.”
Method / place: NBC News interview.
Links: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-iran-kharg-island-just-for-fun-rcna
March 15, 2026
Quote: “We will pretty soon either make a deal, or do whatever we have to do.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-15-2026
6. Whether the United States Will Use Ground Troops
March 2, 2026
Quote: “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground… like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it.”
Method / place: Interview with the New York Post.
Links: https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/
March 2, 2026
Quote: “I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.’”
Method / place: Same New York Post interview.
Links: https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/us-news/trump-wont-rule-out-sending-us-troops-into-iran-if-necessary-tells-the-post-i-dont-care-about-polling/
March 8, 2026
Quote: (In response to question on whether he would send in ground troops), “I don’t think it’s an appropriate question.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters.
Links: (report summary) https://www.kcra.com/article/trump-ground-troops-iran-kurdish-forces/70657068
March 8, 2026
Quote: (In further response to questions on whether he would send in ground troops) “I would say, if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level.”
Method / place: Same remarks.
Links: https://www.kcra.com/article/trump-ground-troops-iran-kurdish-forces/70657068
7. How We Know When the War Is Won
March 1, 2026
Quote: “They will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives.”
Method / place: Video address.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-video-address-iran-israel-combat-operations-continue-until-objectives-achieved/
March 2, 2026
Quote: “Our objectives are clear. We’re going to destroy their missile capabilities. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to make sure they never get a nuclear weapon. And we’re going to make sure they can no longer arm, fund and direct terrorist armies in other countries.”
Method / place: Medal of Honor ceremony remarks at the White House.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-war-white-house/ | https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-us-war-day-3-american-deaths-israel-gulf-allies-hit-missile-strikes/
March 9, 2026
Quote: “Wrapping up is all in my mind, nobody else’s.”
Method / place: CBS News interview.
Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-iran-cbs-news-the-war-is-very-complete-strait-hormuz/
March 13, 2026
Quote: “When I feel it. When I feel it in my bones.”
Method / place: Fox News interview.
Links: https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-13-2026-oil-prices-2a86a1f5c5997b70c6586d957074fb0c
March 13, 2026
Quote: “It’ll be as long as it’s necessary.”
Method / place: Remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
Links: https://apnews.com/article/2a86a1f5c5997b70c6586d957074fb0c
Source link washingtonspectator.org
