President Donald Trump predicted the end of the Iran war, stating it would occur 'immediately after the election' during a rally in Dallas aimed at rallying Republican support ahead of the November midterm elections. He suggested that the Iranians 'can't hold out any longer.' This prediction comes as the Iran war, which has lasted over six months, has become a significant political issue for Trump's party, with 68% of Americans disapproving of his handling of the situation, according to a UMass Amherst poll from late August. An NBC News survey from September 1 indicated that only 31% approved of Trump's Iran policy.
Trump's comments were made before he boarded Air Force One, which experienced a delay due to the deployment of its emergency evacuation slide. He assured reporters that the aircraft was safe to fly. The rally's guest list reflected Trump's declining popularity, with notable Republican figures, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several candidates from competitive races, opting not to participate.
In a related issue, Vice President JD Vance addressed the case of a widow of a soldier killed in the Iran war, who was initially informed that her family would miss out on combat benefits due to the Pentagon's classification of the conflict. After her public statement, the Air Force corrected its earlier information, confirming she would receive the benefits owed to her late husband, Major Alex Klinner, who died in a crash while supporting US operations against Iran. Vance promised to ensure the widow received all entitled benefits, while also disputing the classification of the conflict as a war, citing a lack of active shooting despite acknowledging flare-ups of fighting. Senior commanders have warned that prolonged operations in Iran could weaken US defenses elsewhere.