As the United States and Israel's military conflict with Iran enters its seventh month, President Donald Trump has downplayed the situation, referring to it as "small potatoes." On September 4, 2026, during an Oval Office signing event, Trump compared the conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of 18 US service members and increased global energy prices, to other military operations, including the attempt to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump stated, "It’s not a big thing," and noted that in the Venezuelan operation, there were no US casualties.
Vice President JD Vance had previously suggested that the conflict had cooled, stating, "I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting," while acknowledging that there have been flare-ups. Trump agreed with Vance, labeling the situation a "military conflict" and asserting that the US is not currently engaged in fighting, emphasizing control over the Hormuz Strait and intermittent strikes.
Since the conflict began on February 28, Trump has used various terms to describe it, avoiding the label of war. He has referred to it as a "little skirmish" and a "little excursion," suggesting that it is an operation to prevent a larger war. Legal experts have raised concerns about the legality of the administration's military actions without congressional approval, as the US Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war.
In June, Congress passed a war powers resolution urging Trump to seek authorization for military actions against Iran. A recent poll indicated that nearly 60% of US adults disapprove of the military strikes on Iran. As midterm elections approach, Trump's remarks seem aimed at minimizing the conflict's global impact. The war has led to attacks across the Middle East, with fuel prices in the US averaging $4.15 per gallon, up nearly a dollar from the previous year.
The Trump administration continues to assert that the conflict's effects will be short-term and plans to intensify its economic pressure on Iran, which has faced longstanding US sanctions. Trump has promised the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY" and announced new sanctions to limit Iran's access to the international financial system. He also hinted at potential further attacks, including on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain military site near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Recent exchanges of strikes have seen Iran targeting US military bases, while the US has been accused of bombing a wedding celebration in Sirik, resulting in casualties. Despite the uncertain future of the conflict, Trump expressed satisfaction with its progress, stating, "What matters is you’ve had tremendous success."