President Trump said Wednesday that he expects the military confrontation with Iran to conclude "immediately after" the November midterm elections, a prediction that comes as his approval rating sags amid the ongoing conflict and rising prices.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before heading to a Dallas GOP rally, Trump asserted that Tehran cannot sustain its current posture. "I think the war is going to end immediately after the election," he said. "They can't hold out any longer."
The president framed the timing as a political calculation by Iran, suggesting the regime is trying to sway the outcome of the midterms. "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," he added.
When asked whether negotiations with Iran might resume, Trump downplayed that possibility. "We're not looking for it, to be honest," he said. "Originally I wanted to make a deal. We're so far down the line. We have very little country left." He allowed that "a negotiation could possibly happen, but it's not something we're looking at."
The remarks came hours after Iran announced it had struck ten ships near the Strait of Hormuz, including two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers. That action followed the U.S. destruction of five Iranian oil tankers on Tuesday. Trump said the U.S. has "knocked out nine of their ships," adding, "I would say that the attacks are caused by us, and you're going to see a lot more."
The escalating exchanges have fueled public unease. The latest Reuters/Ipsos survey puts Trump's approval at 33 percent, with the Iran war and inflation cited as major drags. That has Republican strategists worried as the midterms approach, with some privately questioning the wisdom of the president's aggressive posture.
Trump's comments also come amid broader trade tensions, including a new round of tariffs on Canadian goods, which has complicated GOP efforts to retain Senate seats in border states. The combination of foreign policy turmoil and economic anxiety is shaping the final stretch of the campaign.
At the Dallas rally, Trump is expected to highlight his administration's actions against Iran, but the president's prediction of a quick end to the conflict may be met with skepticism. Critics note that similar forecasts have not materialized, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile.
For now, the White House is signaling no immediate shift in strategy. "We're not looking for it," Trump reiterated, suggesting that any resolution will come only after voters have had their say.
