Trump Makes U-Turn One Hour After Trying to Tout Bonkers War Victory
Donald Trump claimed to have wiped Iran “off the map” in a social media post, then quickly reversed course and threatened new military strikes just an hour later.
The President makes his first appearance on Truth Social at 6:37pm EST. Analysis by The New York Times He questioned whether he was close to achieving his stated goals in military action against Iran.
Trump reacted to a New York Times article about the war in Iran on Saturday night. / Real Social
“Washington is preoccupied with the question of when to do this, even if most of its war goals have not been met,” the article stated.
“There is growing evidence that the effects of Mr. Trump’s trip may exceed his interest.”
Trump responded with an angry post on Truth Social, insisting that the United States had already won a decisive victory.
Trump said, “The United States has taken Iran off the map,” emphasizing that the country’s leadership, navy and air force are “dead” and that Tehran has “absolutely no defense.”
More than 2,000 people, including 13 US soldiers, have been killed since the start of the Iran war. / Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asian News Agency) via Reuters
But just over an hour later, at 7:44 p.m. EST, Trump appeared to undermine his own claims of outright victory with a definitive ultimatum.
In his second post, he said, “IF Iran DOES NOT FULLY OPEN THE Strait of Hormuz WITHOUT THREAT WITHIN 48 HOURS… USA… will hit and destroy their various POWER PLANTS.”
This escalation went down strangely alongside earlier claims of complete victory, and also raised legal red flags because targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants is considered a war crime under international law.
Trump threatens
In recent days, Trump has repeatedly suggested that the United States is “very close” to achieving its goals, while also rejecting the idea of a ceasefire as thousands more troops are to be deployed to the region and attacks continue to escalate.
His definition of victory also continues to change.
Initial demands for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” have faded and been replaced by a much looser goal of preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons; It was a goal Trump claimed he had achieved last year after the United States and Israel attacked Iran’s key nuclear facilities.
“We have completed our very successful attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran… NOW IS PEACE TIME!” HE Wrote at Truth Social last June.
But nearly a year later, Trump is still threatening new attacks and redefining what victory would look like in the desperate struggle to find a way out of the escalating conflict.
High gasoline prices are displayed at a gas station in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, March 10, 2026. / Mike Blake / REUTERS
According to the Times, Trump has begun to signal publicly that he may “slow down” operations, but there is little sign that military action will slow down.
Earlier this week, troops were shifted to the Middle East in preparation for a possible ground operation against Iran.
The mixed signals point to competing pressures pulling Trump in opposite directions. On the one hand, he tried to reflect absolute victory. On the other hand, the ongoing economic and political consequences are becoming difficult for the administration to ignore.
Instability in the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route for global energy supplies, Oil markets shook and prices rose. US allies, who have largely stayed out of the conflict, are less willing to intervene.
The White House and the New York Times did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
