Trump Says U.S. Has “Won” Against Iran but Won’t Withdraw Early

Published On 12 Mar, 2026
trump-says-us-has-won-against-iran-but-wont-withdraw-early

“You never like to say too ⁠early you won. We won,” ​Trump told a campaign-style rally in Hebron, Kentucky. “In ​the first hour it was over.”

He said the United States had knocked out 58 ​Iranian naval ships.

Trump has seesawed ​on Iran, crediting the U.S. military for significantly ‌degrading ⁠Iran’s military but resisting a speedy end to the conflict.

“We don’t want to leave early do we?” Trump ​said. “We ​got to ⁠finish the job.”

He said the United States has “virtually destroyed ​Iran.” He seemed to signal that ​the ⁠United States would continue the fight for now.

“We don’t want to go ⁠back ​every two years,” he ​said.

Trump administration estimates Iran war cost at over $11 billion in six days

Officials from ​President Donald Trump’s administration estimated during a congressional briefing this week that the ‌first six days of the war on Iran had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.