MIAMI, FLORIDA March 9, 2026 – President Donald Trump held a press conference at his Trump National Doral resort in Miami on Monday evening, addressing the ongoing military operations against Iran amid global market volatility and rising oil prices. The event followed a Republican lawmakers’ retreat at the same location and came more than a week into Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.
During the conference, Trump emphasized the strength of the U.S. economy and military, stating, “We’ve had the best first year of any president ever. We’re making America great again, and we’re doing it much faster than we thought. It’s better, stronger. Our country is doing really well, at levels nobody thought.” He characterized the conflict with Iran as a necessary but temporary action, saying, “We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. I think you’ll see it is going to be a short-term excursion. How good is our military?”
Trump indicated that U.S. forces are progressing ahead of schedule in the operation, noting, “The US is very far ahead of the 4-week timeframe. War could be over soon.” He reiterated that ground troops would not be deployed unless absolutely necessary to secure enriched uranium sites or complete objectives, while praising the decimation of Iran’s navy, air force, and missile systems.
The president also addressed Iran’s recent appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader following the death of his father in U.S. strikes, warning that any leader not approved by the U.S. “is not going to last long.” Trump claimed that Iran should have “cried uncle” by now and revealed that Israel was on the verge of a nuclear attack last year, justifying the preemptive action. He ruled out Kurdish involvement to avoid complicating the conflict and demanded unconditional surrender from the Iranian regime, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoing that there would be “no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender.”
In addition to the Iran discussion, Trump announced the formation of a new military coalition, Shield of the Americas, aimed at eradicating drug cartels, welcoming Latin American leaders to the initiative. He also touched on international calls, including a “very good call” with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine and the Middle East.
The press conference occurred after U.S. markets closed, amid fears of inflation due to soaring oil prices from the conflict. Trump acknowledged short-term economic impacts but framed them as necessary for long-term security. Earlier in the day, the House rejected a Democratic war powers resolution that would have required congressional approval for continued strikes, voting 219-212 in favor of the administration’s approach.
Trump also commented on trade issues, pivoting after a Supreme Court ruling struck down key tariffs by invoking alternative measures to maintain his agenda. The event underscored the administration’s focus on decisive action in foreign policy, with Trump expressing optimism about resolving the Iran situation swiftly.
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