President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that “we’re long beyond ceasefire” in the Israel-Iran war, responding to a question regarding his dispute with French President Emmanuel Macron over a deal in the Middle East conflict.
Before conflict broke out between Israel and Iran, Trump had been trying to broker a nuclear deal with the latter that could have avoided it. Nuclear talks have since ceased.
“He said I was going back home to make a ceasefire,” Trump said of Macron. “We’re long beyond ceasefire. It’s a bad term to use. We’re looking for a total, complete victory. You know what the victory is? No nuclear weapon.”
Q: You had a bit of a row with Macron–
TRUMP: He said I was going back home to make a ceasefire. We’re long beyond ceasefire. It’s a bad term to use. We’re looking for a total, complete victory. pic.twitter.com/PO05oXkc4T
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 18, 2025
Trump left the door open for Iranian leadership to come to the White House to negotiate in the same briefing, suggesting the Iranians had already asked to meet with him.
“Yeah,” he said in response to a question about whether Iranian leadership could come to the White House. “I mean, they asked if they could come. We’ll see if that happens. It’s not that easy for them to come. They can’t get out… there’s bombs dropping all over the place.”
Trump blasted Macron earlier this week for telling reporters at a Group of 7 meeting in Canada that the United States will “find a ceasefire, and since they can pressure Israel, things may change.”
The president said Macron was “publicity-seeking” and the French leader “has no idea why I am on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire.”
A ceasefire doesn’t appear to be top of mind at the moment for either Iran or Israel as the sides trade blows. Israel and the U.S. don’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, with the former launching strategic strikes aimed at killing top military officials and nuclear scientists along with damaging nuclear sites last Thursday. Iran has responded with waves of missiles targeted at Israel, largely in civilian areas, as the Jewish state continues to target military infrastructure and other sites in Iran.
American involvement in the war has been debated. Trump said he hasn’t made a final decision on how U.S. military involvement would look in the conflict; however, the U.S. has already aided Israel in a defensive capacity by shooting down Iranian missiles. Trump said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday that, “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”
It’s unclear what the full extent of the U.S.’s involvement is as of Wednesday, but American support may be needed if Israel wants to take out Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. American bunker-buster bombs are considered a key solution to taking out the leader.
Trump also said Tuesday that he wants a “real end” to the conflict and is not seeking a ceasefire. He wants a “complete give-up” by Iran.
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He also warned the nation not to touch American troops or assets in the region.
“I think they know not to touch our troops,” he said of Iran, adding the U.S. would be “gloves off” in its response.
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