Trump calls Iran conflict ‘military conflict’ and says its costs are ‘crumbs’ for the United States

Donald Trump described the confrontation with Iran as a “military conflict” rather than a war, saying the costs to the United States were “crumbs.” He said the United States was carrying out intermittent attacks, even as 18 Americans had died in the conflict.

“Many do not call it a war,” Trump said, adding that he called it a military conflict because “for us it is a small thing. It is not a matter of great magnitude.” When told that 18 Americans had been killed, he replied, “even one is too many, but in Vietnam we lost thousands.”

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Many do not call it a war. I call it a military conflict, for us it is crumbs. We carry out intermittent attacks.

Trump also said the United States controlled the Strait of Hormuz and had “practically taken control of Iran.” He did not rule out a possible attack on Pickaxe Mountain “very soon.”

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Even one is too many, but in Vietnam we lost thousands.

According to Axios, the administration is working on an early plan for the postwar Middle East. The proposal seeks to contain Iran and expand the Abraham Accords, which normalize relations between Israel and countries in the region. The planning faces the timing of Israeli elections in October and U.S. midterm elections, Axios reported, citing sources.

On Russia and Ukraine, Trump said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel first to Russia and then Ukraine with “a proposal to end the war.” He said he had already resolved “eight wars,” described Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as hating each other, and said the two envoys were strong negotiators. Trump also said Putin did not intend to attack NATO territory.

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We control the Strait of Hormuz, we have practically taken control of Iran.

Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit the White House on September 24 with his wife, and that he would host a state dinner. He separately called the case of Lindsay Clancy, the mother who killed her three children, a “terrible tragedy,” saying he expected a new trial and that she would face either a mental-health institution or prison.

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I speak with Putin. I know him very well. Putin does not intend to attack NATO territory.