WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday characterized the ongoing conflict with Iran as "small potatoes," defending Vice President JD Vance’s assertion that months of intermittent attacks in the Middle East do not constitute a formal war. The comments were made during an Oval Office exchange where Trump addressed questions regarding his vice president's previous remarks downplaying the intensity and scope of the hostilities.
Downplaying Intensity Amidst Ongoing Strikes
Trump noted that U.S. strikes on Iran are currently "intermittent" and sought to contextualize the scale of the engagement relative to other historical conflicts. The president highlighted that while the conflict has cost U.S. taxpayers more than $37.5 billion and resulted in the deaths of 18 American service members, it remains distinct from larger-scale wars, as we reported in Trump Contradicts Top Advisers on Iran War Strategy Amid Rising Tensions.
“I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing,” Trump said during the press exchange on Friday.
Vance's Distinction Between Conflict and War
The President’s remarks followed comments made by Vice President Vance on Thursday, who rejected the use of the word "war" to describe U.S. fighting with Iran. During a White House press briefing, Vance stated that there is currently no active shooting occurring between the nations.
Vance also avoided predicting whether the six-month-old conflict would conclude before the November midterm elections, in which Republicans are seeking to maintain their narrow majorities in Congress. His characterization came despite reports that Iran fired at U.S. Gulf ally Kuwait on Thursday in retaliation for earlier rounds of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, as we reported in Trump Contradicts Top Advisers on Iran War Strategy Amid Rising Tensions.
Comparisons to Past Military Operations
When pressed by reporters regarding the 18 U.S. service members killed, Trump reiterated his argument that the conflict has successfully neutralized Iran’s nuclear program without requiring a large-scale ground deployment. He compared the current situation to previous operations, noting that no U.S. personnel were lost during the January military operation in Venezuela aimed at seizing former President Nicolás Maduro, more details at USA Today.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon because if they did you probably wouldn’t be standing here,” Trump said, emphasizing the strategic outcomes achieved through air strikes conducted alongside Israel since February 28.
