U.S. President Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying ground troops to Iran “if necessary,” signaling flexibility amid ongoing strikes targeting Iran’s military and political leadership.
Speaking to The New York Post Monday after launching Operation Epic Fury with Israel—killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 49 leaders—Trump dismissed past presidents’ “no boots on the ground” pledges: “I don’t have the yips… I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.’”
Trump shortened his earlier four-week war estimate to Sunday’s Daily Mail forecast, telling The Post: “It’s going to go pretty quickly… way ahead of schedule—49 killed in one day.” Objectives include destroying missiles, navy, nuclear sites, and terror support; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed no ground troop limits.
The strikes followed Geneva talks collapsing over intelligence of resumed Iranian nuclear work at hidden sites. “They wanted a nuclear weapon… so it was just time,” Trump said, insisting he did “the right thing” despite polls, prioritizing prevention over conflict risks from “crazy people.”
Trump urged polls reflect a “silent majority” support, defending action overdue for security. Casualties include six U.S. personnel and downed jets; Iran retaliated on Israel, Gulf bases.
The campaign continues, with Trump open to public apologies for racism-like lapses but firm on Iran’s existential threat.
