Trump Keeps Moving the Goalposts on His War With Iran

A timeline of Trump’s shifting rationale for bombing Iran.

President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting.

President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have offered different reasons for the U.S. taking military action in the Middle East. Evan Vucci/AP

Is the United States’ goal in Iran regime change or not? Seven days into the military operation, President Donald Trump and top administration officials haven’t provided consistent answers.

The administration has insisted that the goal was not regime change, and that it would not engage in “feckless nation building.” But Trump signaled on Friday that the U.S. would be involved in charting Iran’s future after the war’s conclusion.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before,” Trump’s post read.