Trump Says Iran’s Rulers Remaining in Power Would Be a Defeat
Donald Trump told Hugh Hewitt that Iran’s rulers remaining in power after his presidency would constitute a defeat, while leaving open further military action despite claiming Tehran’s regime is collapsing.
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President Donald Trump said Iran’s rulers remaining in power when he leaves office would constitute a defeat, setting a political measure of failure for his administration as the U.S. continues its military campaign and naval blockade against Tehran.
In a November 12 telephone interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump was asked whether the Iranian leadership surviving his presidency would represent defeat or whether removing it was beyond the time remaining in his term.
After briefly clarifying that Hewitt meant Iran’s rulers rather than what Trump called “Iran crazies here,” the president replied: “Yes, that would be a defeat. Yep. I would say that would be a defeat. Absolutely.”
Regime Survival Becomes a Test
Trump’s assessment came as he claimed Tehran’s leadership was already nearing collapse.
Asked whether he would maintain the naval blockade for another 26 months if necessary, Trump said “the regime is collapsing,” citing economic deterioration and extensive military losses.
He claimed Iranian inflation had reached 301%, a figure substantially above available estimates. Iran’s central bank reported annual inflation of approximately 71.4% through October, while the International Monetary Fund projected average inflation of about 78.6% for 2026.
Military Escalation Remains Possible
Trump also declined to rule out renewed large-scale military operations.
Asked whether he would hesitate to use additional force against Iran, he answered: “No. No hesitation.”
He subsequently acknowledged that further strikes against Iranian industrial and military facilities were possible.
The remarks followed conflicting signals from Trump, who has recently described the war as effectively over militarily while maintaining that Washington remains prepared for further action.
Claims Over Hormuz and Casualties
Trump asserted that U.S. forces controlled the Strait of Hormuz completely and that no American soldiers had been lost in five months.
Both assertions face contradictory reporting.
The waterway remains contested amid continued tanker attacks and Iranian military warnings. Separately, later reporting citing Pentagon casualty data has recorded U.S. military fatalities in July, September and October.
The conflict began in late February. Although direct Israel-Iran exchanges largely subsided by early April, U.S.-Iran hostilities and Washington’s blockade have continued.
Fresh Claims of Gulf Attacks
On Friday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed an attack against U.S. radar infrastructure in Bahrain following an alleged American strike in southern Iran.
CENTCOM denied the radar had been destroyed and said its forces intercepted two Iranian drones without injuries or damage. Neither side’s account was independently verified.
The latest exchange underscored the continuing hostilities surrounding Trump’s newly stated measure of defeat.
Kamer Kurunç
Kamer Kurunç is the Team Leader of Clash Report and has led the outlet for four years. He oversees its breaking world news coverage, from the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war to defense and global politics. His focus is fast, verified, source-based reporting. Follow him on X at @kamerknc.
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