Trump Delivers His First Primetime Speech Since Beginning of Iran War

President Donald Trump gave a primetime speech to the nation on Wednesday for the first time since the beginning of the conflict with Iran.

The Speech: Trump, during his roughly 19-minute speech said that Operation Epic Fury "will continue until our objectives are fully achieved," and "that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly." Trump asserted that "Over the next two to three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong," adding that if a deal is not made, "we have our eyes on key targets" and "we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously." Calling Iran "the bully of the Middle East," Trump said, "This is a true investment in your children and grandchildren's future" and asked the American public to "keep this conflict in perspective" considering the war with Iran has only been ongoing for 32 days while listing many other wars lasting years.

Big Questions Left Unanswered: Stephen Collinson, writing analysis for CNN (Lean Left bias) said "Trump presented his most coherent and temperate explanation of why he went to war," but added that "weeks of subsequent whiplash filled by his contradictory and shifting war aims may blunt the impact of his more clearly articulated justifications for war." Trump, according to Collinson, did not answer the most pressing questions undermining his victory lap." Trump said in his speech that while regime change wasn't an objective, the killing of the Ayatollah and several other IRGC leaders effected regime change, but Collinson asserted that "Iran is still in the hands of regime remnants that may be even more radicalized than before the war." Collinson also said that Trump's statements regarding satellite surveillance over Iran's bombed out underground bunkers believed to be holding enriched uranium "leaves his assurances that he ended the nuclear threat open to doubt."

Return to the 1970s: Matt Peterson, writing analysis for CNBC (Lean Left) said "Trump's Iran speech ignores the risks of a return to the 1970s," explaining that even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, "the conflict and its economic consequences for Americans may get worse before they get better." Other outlets, like Market Watch (Center) framed the speech around the "soaring" oil prices, saying Trump's statements over hitting Iran "extremely hard" is "fueling concerns about broader disruption in the global energy sector."    

Investment For Future Generations: The New York Post (Lean Right) highlighted Trump's statements of the war being an "investment in your children and your grandchildren's future." The article also focused on the portions of the speech describing Iran as "The most violent and thuggish regime on Earth."  

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