Trump calls Iran war a ‘little excursion’ during GOP retreat in Florida
TOI GLOBAL | Mar 10, 2026, 20:09 IST
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Donald Trump called the Iran war a “little excursion” while speaking at a Republican retreat in Florida, defending U.S. strikes and urging GOP unity before the midterm elections as polls show mixed public support for the conflict.
President Donald Trump described the ongoing war with Iran as a “little excursion” while speaking to Republican lawmakers during a party retreat at his golf club in Doral, Florida, as he sought to rally support ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump made the remarks during a gathering of House Republicans held at his resort near Miami, where he defended the U.S. bombing campaign against Iran and said the military action was necessary to eliminate what he called serious threats in the Middle East.
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil,” Trump told lawmakers and donors. “And I think it’s going to be a short-term excursion.”
The president’s comments came as the United States and Israel continued joint military operations against Iran. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with hundreds of Iranian civilians and military personnel. U.S. forces have also suffered losses during the campaign.
Trump’s visit to the retreat was aimed at boosting Republican morale as the party prepares for the upcoming midterm elections, where control of the House of Representatives is at risk. Polls show that while most Republican voters support the strikes on Iran, a majority of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the conflict.
During his speech, Trump compared the current war to past foreign policy crises faced by earlier presidents, including the Iran hostage crisis during the administration of Jimmy Carter and the withdrawal from Afghanistan under Joe Biden. Trump argued that his military actions were different and more decisive.
“We’ve done a real job,” he said. “We got all good ones.”
Despite his confidence, the war has complicated the political landscape for Republicans. Rising oil prices linked to the conflict have pushed gasoline costs higher in the United States, creating economic pressure that could affect voters ahead of the elections.
At the retreat, House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Trump’s leadership, saying the president acts quickly when facing international crises. Republican leaders also urged lawmakers to stay united as Democrats attempt to regain control of Congress in November.
Trump later told reporters the war would not end immediately but insisted it would be over soon, saying, “Not this week, but soon. I think soon.”
The president also warned that Iran had posed a growing threat to Israel and the region, claiming the strikes were needed to prevent a larger conflict in the Middle East.
Trump made the remarks during a gathering of House Republicans held at his resort near Miami, where he defended the U.S. bombing campaign against Iran and said the military action was necessary to eliminate what he called serious threats in the Middle East.
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil,” Trump told lawmakers and donors. “And I think it’s going to be a short-term excursion.”
The president’s comments came as the United States and Israel continued joint military operations against Iran. The conflict has already caused heavy casualties, including the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with hundreds of Iranian civilians and military personnel. U.S. forces have also suffered losses during the campaign.
Trump’s visit to the retreat was aimed at boosting Republican morale as the party prepares for the upcoming midterm elections, where control of the House of Representatives is at risk. Polls show that while most Republican voters support the strikes on Iran, a majority of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the conflict.
During his speech, Trump compared the current war to past foreign policy crises faced by earlier presidents, including the Iran hostage crisis during the administration of Jimmy Carter and the withdrawal from Afghanistan under Joe Biden. Trump argued that his military actions were different and more decisive.
“We’ve done a real job,” he said. “We got all good ones.”
Despite his confidence, the war has complicated the political landscape for Republicans. Rising oil prices linked to the conflict have pushed gasoline costs higher in the United States, creating economic pressure that could affect voters ahead of the elections.
At the retreat, House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Trump’s leadership, saying the president acts quickly when facing international crises. Republican leaders also urged lawmakers to stay united as Democrats attempt to regain control of Congress in November.
Trump later told reporters the war would not end immediately but insisted it would be over soon, saying, “Not this week, but soon. I think soon.”
The president also warned that Iran had posed a growing threat to Israel and the region, claiming the strikes were needed to prevent a larger conflict in the Middle East.