Trump Denies Promising War in Interview
In an interview with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” President Donald Trump asserted that he never promised to start a war. This statement came months after his decision to send B-2 bombers for attacks on Iran’s enrichment facilities in June 2025, leading to the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, following failed negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear weapons.
During the interview, Welker pressed Trump about his approach to Iran. Trump defended his stance, saying he plans to either negotiate a deal or take decisive action. “I’ve been running this policy for years, and now I’m going to end it for good,” he stated. “Either I’m going to do it through negotiations that are very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow them all the way, to be honest with you. And it’s a no-brainer for me to do that.”
When questioned about his past assurances against going to war, Trump was clear. “So when I say ‘I promised,’ I don’t promise anything,” he said. He expressed his dislike for what he called “endless wars,” noting that the current situation has lasted only three months, largely under ceasefires.
Reflecting on his military perspective, Trump argued for a strong military presence but emphasized that ideally, it should not be needed. “You know, we haven’t had a war in four years. Other than defeating ISIS, we defeated ISIS in record time. And — but there was no war,” he stated. He went on to dismiss concerns about starting a new conflict, labeling it as a misunderstanding.
Welker reminded Trump of his prior comments describing the Middle East as a quagmire. When she asked how he could ensure the situation wouldn’t devolve into chaos, Trump insisted, “We’re not going there.” Catching his response, he added, “It’s not a quagmire. We just wiped out the military of a very dangerous country. And we wiped out the nuclear threat.” He claimed that any departure from the current stance would give Iran years to rebuild, which he was determined to prevent.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in a recent interview, mentioned Iran’s capabilities to produce multiple nuclear devices, suggesting that curbing their nuclear ambitions could help reduce energy prices in the long run. Similarly, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff made claims about Iran’s enrichment activities but did not provide evidence to back these statements.
Despite assertions from the Trump administration that Iran’s nuclear threat had been significantly diminished following the attacks, officials still expressed concerns about Iran’s potential risks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the attack was necessary due to fears of Iranian retaliation against American forces amid regional tensions.
Reports indicate that President Trump was ultimately persuaded to launch the offensive against Iran during a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite skepticism from other officials in his administration.
Amid the escalating situation, Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned, citing that the conflict was initiated due to pressures from Israel and its lobbying efforts in the U.S. He argued that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States.
