As the U.S. war against Iran enters its third week, President Trump and his administration are emphasizing a narrative of victory amid faltering public support. Polls indicate skepticism among Americans, with rising gas prices and declining global markets adding pressure. Correspondent Franco Ordoñez reports from Florida on the shift in messaging.
The conflict with Iran has now lasted three weeks, prompting the Trump administration to pivot toward claims of dominance. Speaking over the weekend in Florida, President Trump stated, 'As far as I'm concerned, we've essentially defeated Iran,' while boasting of destroying Iran's air force and navy, leaving it with 'little fight left.' This comes after initial confusion over the war's rationale, including suggestions of aiding protesters or preempting an Iranian strike, for which no evidence was provided beforehand. Trump later described acting on a 'feeling' that Iran would attack first and offered vague timelines, saying the war would end 'soon' or 'as long as necessary.' NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez noted the administration's struggle to justify the war politically, now countered by repetitive assertions of winning. Jenny Stromer-Galley, a political messaging expert at Syracuse University, described this as Trump the 'showman' projecting strength to unify support and avoid perceptions of a quagmire like Iraq. She said, 'This strong, repetitive we're winning, we're winning, we're winning... is strategically an effort to try to get everybody on the same page with this story.' Challenges persist: 13 U.S. service members have died, oil prices have risen, and polls show division even among Trump's base. The president has blamed media coverage, posting that outlets want the U.S. to lose, while the FCC chair threatened a station's broadcast license over its reporting. Despite military successes, public backing wanes as economic impacts mount.
