Trump: "Expected War to Last 4-5 Weeks... We Have the Capability to Go Longer" [US Airstrikes on Iran]

Trump's First Public Event: Medal of Honor Ceremony
Aimed to Boost Morale and Patriotism Among US Troops

Donald Trump, President of the United States, giving a speech at the Medal of Honor ceremony. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

Donald Trump, President of the United States, appeared in public for the first time on the 2nd (local time), two days after launching a military operation against Iran in cooperation with Israel. He stated, "I initially expected (the war with Iran) to take four to five weeks, but we have the capability to sustain it for even longer."

President Trump made these remarks while awarding the Medal of Honor to three veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Afghanistan War at a ceremony held at the White House in Washington, D.C. on this day.

This marks the first time President Trump has made real-time public remarks following the airstrikes against Iran. Previously, he had expressed his position through video messages posted on Truth Social on the 28th of last month and the 1st, and had also given a telephone interview to the media.

Choosing the Medal of Honor ceremony as his first public event is interpreted as an effort to boost the morale and patriotism of U.S. troops and to strengthen their resolve.

President Trump emphasized, "No matter how long it takes, we will accomplish whatever is necessary."

He also stated, "We currently possess the most powerful and overwhelming military force in the world, and we will achieve victory with ease."

He went on to say, "We are already well ahead of the expected timeline. We anticipated that it would take four weeks to eliminate the military leadership, but as you know, it was completed in about an hour."

These remarks referred to the fact that, immediately after the war began on the 28th of last month, the U.S. military, in coordination with Israel, carried out airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several senior government officials.

Regarding the achievements of the current military operation, President Trump said that ten Iranian naval vessels had been sunk, adding, "Those vessels have gone to the bottom of the sea." He further stated, "We are also destroying Iran's missile capabilities-their ability to produce new and highly capable missiles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.