Trump puts a date on when he believes Iran war will end as he looks to rally sinking Republicans: ‘They can’t hold out’
Donald Trump has predicted that the war with Iran will end "immediately" after the upcoming US midterm elections, telling reporters he believes Iran "can't hold out any longer." The remarks came as he travelled to Dallas for the Republican Midterm Convention, where he is set to deliver keynote addresses on both nights amid signs of weakening support within his own party ahead of the vote.
The convention's speaker list has drawn attention for who is absent: Senate Majority Leader John Thune was not given a speaking slot, reportedly reflecting Trump's frustration with him over stalled legislative priorities, while vulnerable Republican candidates including Susan Collins, Ashley Hinson and John E Sununu are also steering clear of the main stage. Analysts widely expect Democrats to retake the House, with Senate control hinging on close races in Maine, Ohio, Michigan and Alaska. Separately, Trump's flight to Dallas was delayed after his Qatari-gifted Air Force One deployed its emergency evacuation slide, though he insisted the aircraft was safe to fly. The Iran conflict has now lasted more than six months and killed 18 US service members, with commanders reportedly warning it could be straining US defences elsewhere.
- Trump predicts Iran war will end right after the midterms
- Key Republicans skipping his Dallas convention speech amid party jitters
- Air Force One delayed after evacuation slide mishap; Iran war has killed 18 US troops
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Trump has been US president since January and, alongside domestic policy, has overseen an American conflict with Iran that has now run for more than six months and cost 18 US service members' lives. With midterm elections approaching, he has begun tying his hopes for ending the war to the outcome of the vote, arguing Iran cannot sustain the fight much longer.
The midterms themselves matter because they will decide who controls Congress for the rest of Trump's term. His Republican Party currently holds both chambers, but forecasters expect Democrats to win back the House, while the Senate could go either way depending on a handful of tight races. Signs of strain within the Republican Party, including senior figures keeping their distance from Trump's campaign events, have added to the sense that the party's position is weaker than before.
These threads matter together because a president's ability to govern, and to manage an ongoing war, depends heavily on having allies in Congress. If Republicans lose ground in the midterms, it could limit Trump's options both in pursuing his domestic agenda and in how he handles the conflict with Iran going forward.