Trump: “Iran Is Decimated” (Video)

MIAMI, FL — Standing before a backdrop of American flags at his Doral golf club on Monday, President Donald Trump declared the United States’ military campaign against Iran a near-total success, even as global energy markets reeled from the largest supply disruption in years. In a sprawling news conference marking the tenth day of Operation Epic Fury, the President signaled that the “kinetic phase” of the war is ahead of schedule, dismissing domestic concerns over surging gasoline prices as a “short-term excursion” necessary for global security.

The War Effort: “Iran is Decimated”

President Trump arrived at the podium with his signature confidence, painting a picture of an Iranian regime in total disarray following the assassination of the Supreme Leader and a week of relentless joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“We’ve wiped every single force in Iran out, very completely,” Trump told reporters. “Most of Iran’s naval power has been sunk. They have no navy, no communications, and they’ve got no air force left. We are achieving major strides, and frankly, some could say the objectives are pretty well complete.”

The President confirmed that while the U.S. has refrained from hitting “civilian-devastating” targets like electricity production, those options remain “easy to hit” if Tehran does not move toward unconditional surrender. Despite his claims of total dominance, the administration notably refused to take the prospect of ground troops or a military draft off the table, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarifying that the President “wisely does not remove options” while the situation remains fluid.

The Pain at the Pump: “If They Rise, They Rise”

The most contentious moment of the conference came when the President was grilled on the domestic economic fallout. Since the war began on February 28, crude oil prices have surged, briefly touching $120 a barrel on Monday morning. In the U.S., the national average for a gallon of gas has jumped nearly 20% in some regions, with AAA reporting a spike to $3.45 per gallon.

Trump, who spent the first year of his second term touting low energy costs, appeared unbothered by the reversal.

“Short-term oil prices are a very small price to pay for U.S.A. and world safety,” Trump said, later posting on social media that “ONLY FOOLS” would think otherwise. When asked directly about the burden on working-class families, his response was blunt: “If they rise, they rise. They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over. We’re going to have oil supplies that are dramatically more secure without the threat of Iranian ships or nuclear menace.”

While the President ruled out tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for now—asserting that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open because the Iranian Navy is at the “bottom of the sea”—White House aides are reportedly “scrambling” behind the scenes. Internal memos suggest the administration is weighing a federal gas tax holiday and loosening environmental regulations on ethanol blends to stem the political bleeding ahead of the midterm elections.

Geopolitical Ripple Effects

The conflict has effectively frozen global shipping. Major carriers have diverted vessels away from the Persian Gulf, citing “conflict surcharges” and the threat of retaliatory strikes from Iranian proxies like the Houthis in Yemen and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

In Tehran, the transition of power to Mojtaba Khamenei has signaled a regime digging in for a long-term insurgency rather than the “unconditional surrender” Trump demanded. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have branded the conflict a “reckless war of choice,” accusing the President of manufacturing a crisis that has “wiped away a year of economic progress.”

As the news conference concluded, Trump remained defiant, promising a “very happy” ending to the energy crisis. “I have a plan for everything,” he told the press corps. “And you’re going to be very happy.”

Sources and Links

• The Japan Times: “Trump on rising gas prices during Iran operation: ‘If they rise, they rise'”
• WUNC: “Trump says U.S. is ‘achieving major strides’ in Iran toward military objectives”
• TIME: “Oil Prices Top $100 A Barrel, Trump Says It’s a Short-Term Blip”
• CBS News: “Live Updates: As U.S.-Israeli war with Iran intensifies, Trump says it is ‘very far ahead of schedule'”
• The Guardian: “Trump news at a glance: US leader says Iran being ‘decimated’”
• Military.com: “Could There be a Military Draft? Trump Administration Says it’s ‘On Table'”
• Politifact: “What does the Iran war mean for US gasoline prices?”