Ahead of the conclusion of Operation Epic Fury’s third week, the commander-in-chief previewed America’s role in the region going forward as he reported current efforts could be “winding down.”
As February drew to a close, strikes against Iran’s Islamist regime had commenced in coordination with Israeli forces targeting intelligence sites, military capabilities, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ headquarters and more. After 20 days of the operation, which was said to require anywhere from four to six weeks, President Donald Trump suggested the threat from Iran was nearly “eradicated.”
Taking to Truth Social Friday afternoon, the president stated, “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran:
(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them.
(2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base.
(3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry.
(4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place.
(5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
Amid the lack of support from NATO in defending the shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz, a point that led Trump to slam America’s allies as “cowards” and the organization a “PAPER TIGER,” the president previewed that there would be “NO FREE RIDES” as the United States military wouldn’t be sticking around to police the waterway — nor would it likely “be necessary.”
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!” expressed the commander-in-chief. “If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump announces the US is ON THE VERGE of 100% completing the Iran war, and that America will NOT be responsible for securing the Strait of Hormuz once it’s won
“We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider WINDING DOWN our great… pic.twitter.com/IESIWVjW6P
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 20, 2026
In addition to his social media post, the president spoke with the press outside the White House on Friday. To one question on what he meant by suggesting the U.S. had militarily won in Iran, Trump said, “I think we’ve won. We’ve knocked out their navy, their air force. We’ve knocked out their anti-aircraft. We’ve knocked out everything. We’re roaming free. From a military standpoint — all they’re doing is clogging up the strait — but from a military standpoint, they’re finished.”
.@POTUS on Operation Epic Fury: “We’ve knocked out [Iran’s] navy, their air force. We’ve knocked out their anti-aircraft. We’ve knocked out everything… From a military standpoint, they’re finished.” pic.twitter.com/jdgM1hWsqm
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
He’d also reiterated how NATO “so far haven’t had the courage” to get involved in the Strait of Hormuz to support what he dubbed a “simple military maneuver.”
Given that Asia receives the vast majority of oil flowing through the strait, with China as the far and away top recipient, Trump also took a swipe at the communist nation as he said, “… it would be nice if the countries, including China, if the countries that use it — China uses, 90% of their energy, Japan is 95% of the energy — it would be nice if those countries would get involved.”
.@POTUS on opening the Strait of Hormuz: “It’s a simple military maneuver, it’s relatively safe, but you need a lot of help in the sense that you need ships, you need volume. NATO could help us but they so far haven’t had the courage to do so… it would be nice if the countries,… pic.twitter.com/KDOWOI3rgx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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