“Ahead of Schedule,” Trump Says
In separate interviews Sunday, Trump told Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich that 48 leaders were killed in the coordinated strikes. Speaking to CNBC, he described the military effort as “ahead of schedule.”
“It’s moving along. It’s moving along rapidly,” Trump said in a Fox News interview. “Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly.”
The comments followed an earlier statement to The Washington Post, in which Trump framed the campaign as a bid for liberation.
“All I want is freedom for the people,” he said. “I want a safe nation, and that’s what we’re going to have.”
Uprising or Uncertainty?
Despite his confident tone, Trump stopped short of committing to an extended bombing campaign in support of a potential uprising inside Iran.
“I have to look at the situation at the time it happens,” he said. “You can’t give an answer to that question.”
He expressed optimism that public unrest could succeed, citing reports of celebrations in parts of Iran and among Iranian expatriates in the United States. But he acknowledged the volatile reality on the ground.
“Knowing it’s very dangerous, knowing I’ve told everybody to stay in place — I think it’s a very dangerous place right now,” he said. “The people over there are shouting in the streets with happiness, but at the same time, there are a lot of bombs coming down.”
As smoke lingers over Tehran and diplomatic channels tentatively reopen, the world now watches to see whether the path forward leads to negotiations — or deeper conflict.
