President Trump said that he is working on “a real end” to the conflict between Israel and Iran Tuesday morning after leaving the G-7 summit in Canada early due to the escalating hostilities. Trump said he needed to go back at the White House so he could be “well versed” on the latest events and not have to rely on phones to know what’s happening, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple,” he told reporters on Air Force One, overnight.
Trump signed onto a G-7 statement calling for peace and stability in the Middle East before leaving, but he made clear that achieving that objective would require something “much bigger” than a ceasefire. When asked to clarify his position, the president said he wanted “an end, a real end, not a cease-fire.”
Trump said the Israelis would not be decreasing their barrage on Iran. “You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.”
Late Monday afternoon, the president wrote on Truth Social that everyone should evacuate from Tehran.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life,” he wrote. “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
When asked why he called for Tehran residents to evacuate, Trump said he just wanted “people to be safe.”
As for any threats to American interests, the president said he thinks Iran knows better than to mess with U.S. troops.
“We’ll come down so hard if they do anything to our people,” Trump said. “I think they know not to touch our troops.”
Trump declined to say whether the chairman of joint chiefs and/or the Secretary of Defense have provided him with plans should Iran attack U.S. bases in Middle East. “I can’t tell you that,” he said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has directed “the deployment of additional capabilities” to the Middle East to enhance U.S. forces’ “defensive posture” in the region.
A third U.S. Navy destroyer entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea to help defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles, and a second U.S. carrier strike group is heading toward the Arabian Sea. Tanker aircraft that could potentially help refuel Israeli jet fighters also appeared to be heading to the region, according to flight trackers and people familiar with the matter.
The Pentagon says the military buildup is purely defensive, but, as the WSJ notes, “it puts the U.S. on a firmer footing to join Israeli attacks on Iran should Trump decide to do that.”
When asked if the “Gang of Eight” in Congress had been briefed on anything yet, Trump answered, “we’ll be talking to them” but added, “it’s not necessary.”
Trump said he “may” send United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and/or Vice President J.D. Vance to Iran to meet with officials, but “it depends what happens when I get back.”
In a lengthy post on X Tuesday, Vance noted that his boss has long sought diplomatic solutions to Iran’s nuclear program but remains prepared to take further action if necessary.
The president meanwhile told reporters on Air Force One that he hoped Iran’s nuclear program was “wiped out long before” any potential U.S. involvement in the conflict.
A new national poll of Trump’s 2024 voters showed overwhelming support for Israel’s actions against Iran and strong backing for a major U.S. role:
• 73% say Iran cannot be trusted to honor any diplomatic agreement
• 72% support direct U.S. military action if necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons
• 83% support Israel’s preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites
• 79% support the U.S. sending offensive weapons to aid Israeli operations
• 91% favor providing intelligence to assist Israel’s defense
• 89% are very or somewhat concerned about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons
On Truth Social early Tuesday, Trump stressed that he has “not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form.”
The president added: “This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table – Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”
In a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump did not hide the fact that the U.S. is working with Israel to secure air space over Iran.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran,” Trump wrote. “Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured “stuff.” Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.”
Trump added that the U.S. has located the bunker where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is hiding out, but there are currently no plans to “take him out.”
“We know exactly where the so-called “Supreme Leader” is hiding,” Trump wrote. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”