Trump acknowledges U.S. has not won Iran conflict after repeated claims
President Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States has not achieved victory in the war against Iran, contradicting earlier statements that the conflict would end quickly and that the U.S. had already won.
President Donald Trump, 80, used his Truth Social platform on Monday to say the United States has not yet won the war against Iran, a conflict he previously asserted would conclude within four to five weeks. He added that oil prices would fall sharply once the war ends, predicting gasoline could drop below two dollars per gallon.
A Daily Beast analysis found Trump has claimed victory at least 66 times since the strikes began in late February, including statements in March and April that the U.S. had already won and that Iran was militarily defeated. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The administration’s earlier promises about preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons have been questioned. In 2025, Trump described a U.S. operation that allegedly caused “monumental damage” to Iranian nuclear sites, and a White House article later claimed Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “obliterated.” Subsequent reports indicate the damage was not lasting.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the war’s cost at $37.5 billion in July, with 18 U.S. service members killed and more than 750 wounded. Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted U.S. bases, raising concerns about the long-term viability of American facilities in the Persian Gulf. Retired four-star Army General Barry McCaffrey warned on X that the U.S. may have permanently lost access to 15 Gulf bases.
The conflict has also coincided with internal military personnel actions, including a large-scale dismissal of senior staff and blocked promotions, half of which affected Black service members and women, according to a New York Times report.
Trump’s earlier forecasts that gasoline prices would fall to under $2 per gallon have not materialized; the national average remains around $4.15 per gallon, with diesel prices recently reaching record highs.