Trump rates Iran war '15 out of 10', warns nuclear threat was days away during tech roundtable
Trump has publicly said he rates the U.S. operation in Iran as ‘about a 15’ out of 10, signaling confidence in how it’s going.” pic.twitter.com/aA0jrh04KV
— TheLeaks (@Theleaks26) March 4, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump declared that the ongoing military operation against Iran was a major success during a White House roundtable event with tech companies on Wednesday, March 4.
While the meeting was intended to address energy costs linked to the rapid build-out of data centers, the president noted that those in attendance "probably want to speak about war."
Trump provided a glowing assessment of the conflict's opening days, rating the war effort a "15 out of 10."
"We’re doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly," the president added, echoing recent updates from other administration officials regarding the "amazing thing that's taking place."
Preemptive action to prevent nuclear threat
The president used the event to double down on his administration's rationale for the conflict, asserting that the strikes were necessary to head off Iranian aggression.
Trump claimed that if the US had not acted within two weeks, the Iranian regime would have possessed a nuclear weapon.
🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP: "If we didn't do it [to Iran] first, they would've done it to Israel, and give us a shot, if that was possible." pic.twitter.com/0QyMBHXG4x
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 4, 2026
He further suggested that the US had to strike first to prevent Iran from attacking Israel and possibly the United States.
"I think if we didn’t do it first, they would have done it to Israel and give us a shot if that was possible," Trump told the tech leaders, framing the assault as a vital defensive measure.
Iranian leadership and missiles rapidly depleted
🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP: "For 47 YEARS, we were pushed around and we shouldn't have been."
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 4, 2026
"You see the TREMENDOUS progress being made. Missiles are being wiped out rapidly and the launchers are being wiped out"
"They're attacking their neighbors and in some cases [former] allies...… pic.twitter.com/BP4kvxXEbu
The president reported that Iran’s military infrastructure was being systematically dismantled, stating that its "missiles are being wiped out rapidly, their launchers are being wiped out."
He described the nation as "out of control," noting that the regime had even turned its fire on its own neighbors and former allies.
Regarding the future of the Iranian government, Trump said that the senior leadership was "rapidly going."
"Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead," he remarked, suggesting he currently has no specific view on who might lead the country next.
Trump defends war decision and denies foreign pressure
The president's comments on Wednesday added to the evolving accounts of why the US initiated the war.
While Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously cited the president's "good feeling" about an imminent Iranian threat to US forces, Trump reiterated his belief that "they were getting ready to attack others."
Trump rejected claims of being pressured by foreign leaders, maintaining that the decision was a proactive American move to secure the region.