The White House said President Donald Trump would decide in two weeks whether to join Israel‘s campaign to dismantle Iran‘s nuclear program.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a personal statement from Trump at Thursday’s press briefing to clear up “speculation” from the press on whether the United States would be directly involved in the military attacks on Iran.
“I have a message directly from the president,” Leavitt said, “and I quote, ‘Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.’ That’s a quote directly from the president for all of you today.”
Trump created speculation that the U.S. would soon enter the war when he abruptly departed the G7 summit in Canada a day ahead of schedule early Tuesday morning. The president spent the day hunkered down with his national security team in the White House Situation Room and threatened Iran on social media.
However, U.S. warplanes did not partake in Israeli airstrikes that night or the following day, and Trump directly told reporters Wednesday at the White House that he wouldn’t signal when, or even if, America would join the war effort.
“You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question,” Trump laughed when asked when the U.S. might enter the fray. “You don’t know that I’m going to even do it. You don’t know. I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this — that Iran’s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate.”
Furthermore, the president suggested that Iran would consider sending intermediaries directly to the White House to resume negotiations.
Leavitt echoed Trump’s sentiments during Thursday’s briefing, telling reporters that “the president is always interested in a diplomatic solution to the problems in the global conflicts in this world.”
“He is a peacemaker in chief. He is the peace through strength president, and so if there’s a chance for diplomacy, the president’s always going to grab it, but he’s not afraid to use strength as well,” she continued.
Leavitt also sought to reduce tensions among Republicans stirred up by Trump’s contemplation of military action despite his campaign promises not to entrench the U.S. in “forever wars.”
“Trust in President Trump. President Trump has incredible instincts, and President Trump kept America and the world safe in his first term as president in implementing a peace through strength, foreign policy agenda,” she answered when asked to deliver a message to those questioning Trump’s position on Iran.
“Trust in Trump,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung chimed in on X. “No panicans!”
GABBARD TO RESCHEDULE SENATE INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING AS IRAN CONFLICT ESCALATES
You can watch Thursday’s briefing in full below.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
