Trump to Axios: 'No limits' to my power after Iran war

Former President Donald Trump asserted that the conflict with Iran did not expose limitations on his authority but instead highlighted its breadth. Speaking on "The Axios Show," Trump rejected the notion that the war revealed "gaps" in his ability to wield power.

Trump, who initiated the conflict demanding "unconditional surrender" from Iran before ending it with a limited memorandum of understanding, admitted to Axios's Mark Caputo that he pursued the agreement to avert a global economic downturn. However, he denied that this experience instilled humility.

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There are no limits.

When questioned about the war's lessons regarding the limits of his power, Trump declared, "There are no limits." He continued, "I haven't learned that lesson yet. I know they exist, but there are no limits."

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I haven't learned that lesson yet. I know they exist, but there are no limits.

Trump claimed, "We completely defeated them militarily," and suggested the Memorandum of Cooperation "probably represents an unconditional surrender." He argued the war actually showcased America's military might. "Who else could impose such a blockade? I imposed a naval blockade, not a single ship managed to pass. Some tried. It didn't last long."

The former president conceded in the interview that alternatives to reaching an agreement could have had disastrous consequences. He expressed frustration with his critics who accused him of not being tough enough on Iran. "The only way to be tougher is to stay there for another two or three weeks and keep bombing them relentlessly, right? But what would we gain from that? The Strait of Hormuz wouldn't open. We wouldn't have oil for months. As you bomb, the strait automatically closes," he noted, adding, "That's the kind of event that could cause a global recession."

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We completely defeated them militarily.

According to Axios, Trump privately expressed concern about a potential depletion of global oil reserves and an international energy crisis if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed for an extended period. This may explain why Trump "accepted the deal he could get, rather than the maximum possible he had promised before the war." Nevertheless, he insisted the war demonstrated the extent of his power, not its limits.

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Who else could impose such a blockade? I imposed a naval blockade, not a single ship managed to pass. Some tried. It didn't last long.