Trump Downplays Iran Conflict as a Minor Military Operation

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the ongoing clash with Iran is “small potatoes” for the United States and not a full-scale war. He framed the engagement as a limited military conflict, asserted that the United States has “essentially taken over” Iran, and said the nation’s satellite intelligence would detect any future Iranian threats. The president also argued that the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz is diminishing because alternative pipelines, shipping routes and overland oil transport are replacing the waterway.

The Independent

Trump’s remarks were made in response to questions about record-setting deployments of U.S. service members in the campaign against Iran. He dismissed a Senate vote on the war as “poorly timed and meaningless.” The administration also claimed that it had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and that any new Iranian aggression would be spotted instantly by U.S. satellites.

The Independent

Bipartisan critics have charged that the president is ignoring the Constitution and the War Powers Act by continuing the operation without congressional authorization. Both the House and the Senate have passed resolutions urging the president to seek formal clearance. The widow of Airman John A. Klinner, who was killed in the campaign, alleges that she has been denied certain military benefits because the administration has not formally declared war. Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the administration’s stance, while other lawmakers described the lack of a war declaration as a constitutional breach.

The Independent

• “How long were we in Vietnam?” — President Donald Trump, Independent

The Independent

• “As much as our heart breaks, I can’t possibly fathom a young widow, what she’s feeling, and dealing with it,” — Vance, Independent

The Independent

• “The Hormuz Strait is not what it used to be,” — Donald Trump, Independent

The Independent