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During his first primetime address to the nation to discuss the war with Iran, President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to reassure — and convince — Americans that the operation is necessary and will soon wrap up, as gas prices rise and foreign leaders grapple with the war’s fallout.
Markets didn’t appear to buy into Trump’s optimism — at least, initially — with S&P futures dropping and Brent crude rising.
Roughly four weeks in, Trump portrayed the operations in Iran as necessary, reiterating his administration’s argument that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and “had no intention of abandoning” that pursuit. The US president touted the operation’s success thus far, laying out US objectives and making an effort to ease voters’ concerns on rising gas prices — he said the increase will be “short-term” and blamed Iran for the rise in costs.
And, as a White House official noted earlier on Wednesday, Trump offered up a two-to-three-week timeline for the war’s completion, saying the core military objectives will be achieved “shortly” by the US.
“We’re going to finish it very fast,” Trump said. “We’re getting very close.”
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The roughly 20-minute speech didn’t include any major updates about the war or ongoing negotiations with Iran, and instead seemed to be aimed at more formally laying out the case for war to the American people. The timing is notable, as it comes amid rising concerns from voters about the ongoing conflict — and as the GOP continues to eye the upcoming midterms.
Trump also argued that the Strait of Hormuz will “open up naturally” when the conflict ends, promising that stock prices “will rapidly” rise and gas prices “will rapidly” drop. Even as the bulk of the speech was aimed at easing Americans’ worries about the war, Trump also warned that if no deal with Iran is reached, the US will “hit each and every one of their electric generating plants.”