President Trump on Thursday flatly rejected reports that Iranian forces damaged American warplanes during a missile attack on a Jordanian air base, dismissing the claims as baseless.
Asked by NewsNation's Robert Sherman whether there was “any truth” to the reports, Trump replied, “Nope,” adding, “None whatsoever. No damage. No nothing.” His phone comments came a day after CBS News, citing people with direct knowledge, reported that Iranian strikes had damaged multiple U.S. military aircraft overnight Tuesday into Wednesday at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, operated by the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
According to CBS, one A-10 Thunderbolt lost a wing in the attack, while roughly eight F-15s sustained light damage and returned to service. The strikes were launched in response to the U.S. military's destruction of five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday, escalating a conflict that has now entered its seventh month with no end in sight.
Trump told Sherman the war would “get settled right after” the U.S. midterm elections in November. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, he suggested Tehran was trying to influence the outcome: “They can't hold out any longer. They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice, weak group of people in there, and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”
The president also signaled he was not inclined to reopen negotiations with Iranian officials, saying, “We have very little country left.” He acknowledged that “a negotiation could possibly happen, but it's not something we're looking at.”
The ongoing hostilities have strained U.S. military resources. As of July 27, the Pentagon had consumed roughly two-thirds of its Patriot missile interceptors and more than half of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, according to analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The denial comes amid broader debate over the administration's Iran strategy, with some critics arguing for a shift in approach. A recent analysis suggested ending the Iran blockade to avoid a prolonged conflict, while the president and his allies have framed the military posture as necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The midterm campaign has also intertwined with the war, as Trump and Vice President Vance prepare to headline the RNC's Dallas midterm push. Meanwhile, domestic policy proposals, such as Trump's $5K dividend pledge, have drawn both support and criticism, with some lawmakers calling the idea “soul-sucking.”
As the conflict grinds on, the president's categorical denial of damage to U.S. aircraft may face scrutiny, especially if independent evidence emerges. For now, the White House is sticking to its line that the base attack caused no meaningful harm.
