JOINT BASE ANDREWS — President Trump told reporters on March 13 that the situation in Iran was “going very well,” pointing to what he described as major military strikes and arguing that gasoline and energy prices could decline once the conflict is over.
Speaking during a press gaggle on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said there had been “a lot of big hits today” and said the U.S. military effort was under “very good control.” He also referenced the Strait of Hormuz, saying officials would continue watching developments there.
Asked about concerns over higher fuel costs, Trump said he believed gas prices would “come tumbling down” once the conflict ends. He said that would apply broadly to energy-related prices and argued that military action was necessary to address what he described as a nuclear threat in the Middle East and beyond.
Trump was also asked whether he still expected “unconditional surrender.” In response, he said the United States was in a position of overwhelming dominance and claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded. He said Iran’s navy was gone, its air force was gone, and that its radar and anti-aircraft capabilities had largely been eliminated.
The president did not offer a timeline for how long the conflict might last, saying only that it would continue “as long as it’s necessary.” He added that, in his view, operations were “way ahead of schedule.”
During the exchange, Trump said he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though he did not provide details beyond saying they had discussed multiple issues. He also responded to questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying U.S. and Israeli objectives may differ because they are different countries, while emphasizing American military strength.
The gaggle was not limited to foreign policy. Trump also used the appearance to promote the SAVE Act, describing it as highly popular and framing it as part of a broader effort to tighten election rules. In addition, he criticized Mexico’s handling of cartel violence, saying he had offered help to confront the cartels and arguing that they exert too much influence in the country.
The remarks touched on a wide range of issues, but Iran remained the central focus. Trump repeatedly described the military campaign in favorable terms, emphasized U.S. strength, and tied the outcome of the conflict to both regional security and domestic energy prices.
Watch the full President Trump update and statement in the video above.