Trump estimates four weeks of war and predicts more US soldier deaths
The president extends his hand to Khamenei's successor and assures that Tehran's new leaders want to talk with Washington.
WashingtonDonald Trump seems more willing to talk to the ayatollahs than to the US Congress. While lawmakers are still fighting to be informed about the military campaign in Iran—about which they were also not consulted—the US president has extended an olive branch to the ousted Iranian regime. Yesterday, when Trump He confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Alei Khamenei and also offered "immunity" for all those members of the Revolutionary Guard and law enforcement who supported regime change. Conversely, this Sunday the Republican opened himself up to talking with Khamenei's successor and assured that the new leaders in Tehran want to talk with Washington. The tycoon has made all these statements in posts on Truth Social, or in media interviews. More than 24 hours have passed since the joint attack and Trump did not plan to return to Washington until Sunday night – he remains at his Mar-a-Lago mansion – nor has he appeared publicly to address the nation now that three American soldiers have died.
The first words he has had for the fallen officers were in an interview with the British newspaper Daily Mail, where he did not rule out further casualties. "Sadly, we expect this to happen. It could happen continuously; it could happen again." The tycoon also predicts that the war "will last four weeks or so." "We've always viewed it as a four-week process because of how intense it is. It's a big country. It will take us about four weeks or less." Hours later, in a video posted on his social media, the president insisted that the country must prepare for the prospect of more American casualties. "Sadly, there will be more before it's over. It's going the way it's going. There will surely be more, but America will avenge their deaths," he said.
The three American soldiers killed in Iran's retaliatory attack were deployed in Kuwait, according to NBC. Kuwait is one of the Persian Gulf countries that hosts US military bases and has been attacked by Iranian missiles since the US and Israel launched their bombing campaign against Iran on Saturday.
The damaged Iranian regime, It tries to remain standing under the creation of an internal committee who will govern the country until a new successor is named, according to an announcement by National Security Chief Ali Larijani. Now, after calls were made last night to the Iranians to topple the regime, Trump says he wants to negotiate with the remaining power structure that plans to replace Khamenei. The maneuver Washington is now using with the ayatollahs has parallels with how Venezuela has been managed after the Chavista regime was decapitated, becoming a kind of US protectorate. However, Tehran is much farther geographically than Caracas, and there is no similar state in Latin America to Israel. Throughout this conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently demanded the total annihilation of the regime from Washington, which he considers an existential threat.
Trump undermines the "no more wars" promise
The president is providing updates on the attack, holed up in his mansion, while outside, the MAGA bases turn against him. Unlike what happened with Venezuela, Trump hasn't created any narrative to justify this attack. He simply saw a moment of vulnerability on the part of the regime and attacked. He has launched a full-scale military operation at his lowest point in popularity—60% of citizens disapprove of him—and with previous polls already indicating the inadvisability of an attack on Tehran. A poll conducted in January by Political Shortly after Maduro's capture, a poll showed that nearly half of Americans (45%) believed the US should not take military action against Iran. Only 31% said it should. The Economist A poll taken last week offered a similar picture: 49% were against it.
Trump is once again jeopardizing his promise to the MAGA base not to involve the country in new wars. Among Republican lawmakers, the first complaints have already surfaced, although they come from the usual critics. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie reminded viewers on Saturday on X that "This is not America First," and Congresswoman Lindsey Graham said, "It's not our job to decide the successor." Even so, party discipline is holding within the Republican caucus.
Outside the Capitol, the major influential voices of the MAGA universe have openly criticized the president, as is the case with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and political commentator Millie Weaver. Carlson called the attack "disgusting and evil," and Weaver said the following on X: "I don't remember voting for 'Free Iran.' I voted for 'Make America Great Again.'" Blake Neff, who was a producer on the podcast,influencer Far-right figure Charlie Kirk reminded X that Kirk had opposed regime change in Iran: "Trump/Vance campaigned on a peace platform, and it was popular. Right now, some of my conservative-leaning friends are texting me: 'F*ck this,' 'This is extremely depressing,' 'May.'"