President Donald Trump described the eight-month conflict with Iran as a “soft war” Monday, hours after American forces struck an Iranian island following an attack on a U.S. aircraft.
With the midterm elections one day away, Trump argued during an interview on Fox News’ “Hannity” that the United States could end the confrontation whenever it wanted, even as he threatened more military action if negotiations failed.
“We’re not fighting a war … When was the last time we fired anything? This isn’t a war, this is a very soft war,” Trump told host Sean Hannity.
The United States had struck Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz earlier Monday after Iran fired at an American aircraft.
U.S. officials described the strike to Fox News as defensive and said it did not mark a return to a wider military offensive.
Trump argued that the prolonged standoff should not be compared with earlier wars involving sustained combat.
“What’s a war? A war is fighting. Take a look at World War I, World War II. When was the last time you saw us fighting with them? We go months and months, we talk,” he said, adding that there had not been shooting for months.
The apparent discrepancy between that characterization and Monday’s exchange came as voters faced rising gasoline prices and other economic consequences attributed to the Iran conflict.
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The Pentagon estimates the confrontation has cost taxpayers more than $47 billion. Trump dismissed the expense as “peanuts” and defended the campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The president claimed American operations had severely diminished Iran’s armed forces, including its navy, air force and defenses, along with its ability to manufacture missiles and drones.
He called the campaign’s results “amazing,” although those claims were not independently verified in the supplied accounts.
He also claimed that Operation Midnight Hammer had eliminated Iran’s potential nuclear capability, while raising the prospect of another strike on Pickaxe Mountain.
“Now we have might have to go after Pickaxe [Mountain], but that’s not a big deal. We can do it in literally one hour,” Trump told Hannity, as part of a longer description of the previous operation.
Although he said he was not eager to resume offensive strikes, Trump warned that Iran could face “the hammer” if the latest peace talks failed. He described the United States as negotiating from “total strength” and maintained that Tehran wanted an agreement.
“It could happen if they don’t make a deal. But they want to make a deal very badly, and there is a very good chance we make a deal,” Trump said.
The interview followed Trump’s closing campaign address at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where he urged supporters to vote Tuesday and characterized Democratic candidates as threats to his policies.
.@POTUS: Personal incomes are the highest in history. The poverty rate is at a record low. American exports are at an all-time high. More people are working today than ever. The U.S. is now, by far, the largest supplier of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. pic.twitter.com/dv2fKsjl85
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 2, 2026
The address came at the end of a campaign stretch that, according to the reporting, included 29 midterm stops across the country.
“The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history,” Trump told the crowd, accusing Democrats of seeking higher taxes, looser immigration rules, restrictions on firearms and policies that would increase energy costs.
The president promoted his record on the border, exports, employment and domestic oil production. He also highlighted provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill involving taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits for certain seniors.
“The poverty rate is at an all-time record low, meaning good, best poverty rate we’ve had ever in history. Best personal incomes we’ve had ever in history,” Trump claimed.
He also asserted that no one had entered the country illegally across the southern border in 17 months.
Trump linked the election result to turnout among voters who supported him in the presidential race, predicting a Republican “landslide” if enough of them returned to the polls.
His appeal was conditional rather than a declaration that Republicans were certain to win: the outcome, he argued, depended on whether his presidential-election supporters voted again.
His speech also targeted Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Citing a New York Post report, Trump raised allegations about rhetoric previously used by speakers at mosques where El-Sayed had sought votes.
The reporting described those statements as coming from speakers at the mosques, not as statements by El-Sayed himself.
“We call the United States the House of God, they call it the House of Satan,” Trump said, before urging voters to reject candidates he portrayed as hostile to the country.
Another campaign dispute involved Alaska’s Senate ballot, where a second candidate named Dan Sullivan is running alongside Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Trump accused Democratic operatives of recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. to confuse voters. The allegation followed reporting about contacts between operatives and aides associated with Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.
Her campaign denied involvement, and the Justice Department was reported to be investigating the circumstances surrounding the second candidacy.
After the speech, Trump intensified the allegations on Truth Social, claiming lawyers were concealing the second Sullivan and instructing him on what to say. Those accusations were not established as facts in the reporting.
“The lawyers involved in this case are Criminals, and should be treated as such,” Trump wrote.
“The Highest Levels of the Dumocrat Party are involved in this Criminal Endeavor. Peltola should be forced to resign, and charged, along with FAKE Candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., who is now, MISSING IN ACTION!” he added.
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