Trump says US made major 'accomplishments' against Iran in a week: ‘We’ve hurt them where it hurts’

Donald Trump refused to set a timeline for the Iran war, saying the US will take 'whatever it takes' and may launch more strikes if needed
PUBLISHED MAR 8, 2026
Donald Trump said US forces wiped out Iran’s navy, air force and missiles in a week, leaving the regime’s military 'almost non-existent' (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Donald Trump said US forces wiped out Iran’s navy, air force and missiles in a week, leaving the regime’s military 'almost non-existent' (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)


DORAL, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One en route to Miami on Saturday, March 7, declared that the US has “accomplished more in one week than anyone thought possible” by wiping out Iran's navy and air force, asserting that the US has “hurt them where it hurts.”

Trump claimed that the Iranian navy, air force, and missile systems have been “wiped out,” leaving the regime’s defense capabilities “almost non-existent.”

Trump says US wiped out Iran navy, air force

During a press gaggle on the way to Miami, Trump described ‘Operation Epic Fury’ as a massive military success that has taken out Iran’s most dangerous weapons.

“We've accomplished more in one week than anyone thought possible. We've wiped out their Navy, 44 ships. We've wiped out their air force, every plane. We've wiped out most of their missiles. You see, the missiles aren't coming much anymore,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while traveling aboard Air Force One en route from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Miami, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters while traveling aboard Air Force One en route from Dover Air Force Base to Miami, Saturday, March 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

He explained that the US did not just stop at ships and planes but also targeted the factories where these weapons are built.

“We've also hit the manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Uh their drone capacity is way down. And we've hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have, we've wiped out.”

Trump refuses timeline for Iran war, vows mission completion

When asked if the war would last for the six weeks previously estimated by officials, the president did not commit to a specific deadline, saying he would take as long as necessary to finish the job.

“I don't know. I never reject time. Whatever it takes, but we've uh the military is almost non-existent,” he replied.

Trump noted that while the Iranian military is in ruins, he is still deciding how much further the US needs to go.

“If you look, we could hit the military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we will. We haven't made that determination,” he added, suggesting that more strikes could be coming.

DOVER, DELAWARE - MARCH 07: (L-R) U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute as a U.S. Army carry team moves a flagged-draped transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor at Dover Air Force Base March 07, 2026 in Dover, Delaware. Six soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed in action by an Iranian drone strike on March 1 in Port Shuabia, Kuwait during
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute as a US Army carry team moves a flagged-draped transfer case containing the remains of Sgt 1st Class Nicole M Amor at Dover Air Force Base March 07, 2026 in Dover, Delaware. Six soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment Command were killed in action by an Iranian drone strike on March 1 in Port Shuabia, Kuwait during 'Operation Epic Fury' (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

Trump honors fallen US troops at Dover, touts war progress

The president’s comments followed a visit to Dover Air Force Base earlier that day, where he honored six US service members killed in the fighting. Despite the gravity of the loss, Trump spoke with immense pride about the bravery of the troops and the progress of the war effort.

“We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue, I'm sure, for a little while,” Trump remarked.

He spoke about his time with the families of the fallen, stating, “The parents were so proud of their their boy as they call him my boy case the young lady the parents are so proud many of them are military parents as you know so it's a but it's always a very sad thing the war itself is going unbelievably it's uh as good as it can be.”

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