President Trump told reporters early Tuesday he was seeking “a real end” to the brewing conflict between Israel and Iran.
“I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,” Trump said aboard Air Force One as he flew back from the Group of Seven (G7) summit a day early.
The president said he was looking for “an end, a real end, not a ceasefire, a real end.” He later described what he was seeking as a “complete give-up” by Iran.
“I think they’re know not to touch our troops,” he said of Iran, warning the U.S. would be “gloves off” in its response.
Trump departed the G7 in Canada late Monday, one day earlier than expected because he wanted to be back in Washington as Israel and Iran traded missile strikes.
The Middle Eastern nations have exchanged attacks since Thursday, when Israeli missiles targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and killed multiple top military leaders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day declined to rule out targeting Iran’s supreme leader, something Trump had reportedly cautioned him against doing. Israeli forces have also said they have crippled Iran’s air defense systems, giving Israel air superiority and the ability to essentially strike at will.
The White House announced Trump’s altered schedule shortly after a series of posts he made on Truth Social that struck an ominous tone toward Iran, including one calling for everyone in the capital city of Tehran to “immediately evacuate.”
“Being on the scene is much better, and we did everything I had to do at the G7,” the president said on Air Force One of his decision to return to the White House.
