President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference March 9, 2026 in Doral, Florida. Trump spoke about his administration’s attacks on Iran. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump told House Republicans gathered in Florida for a political retreat on Monday that he expects the war in Iran to end “quickly,” although he gave no specific date or details about what exactly he wants to do before hostilities end.
“We took a little trip because we felt like we had to do it to get rid of something bad,” he said. “And I think you’ll see that it will be a short-term excursion.”
Trump added later in his speech that the U.S. military “will not yield until the enemy is completely and decisively defeated.”
During a subsequent news conference, Trump said the U.S. military had attacked 5,000 sites in Iran but that he was holding off on bombing some of the country’s larger targets to see whether his leadership would allow ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The danger of navigating the crucial shipping route during the war played a role rising oil prices and other market volatilities worldwide.
“We saved some of the key targets for later, in case we need to do it,” he said. “If we hit them, it’s going to take many years to rebuild, what with power generation and a lot of other things. So we don’t plan on doing that unless it’s necessary.”
Trump said that “when the time comes,” the U.S. Navy and unidentified partners will escort ships through this narrow canal.
“I hope it won’t be necessary,” he said. “But if it’s necessary, we’ll accompany them straight through.”
Trump said he was “disappointed” by the Iranian leadership’s response over the weekend selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s recent supreme leader. He is the son of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in military attacks shortly after the war began.
Trump declined to answer whether the country’s recent leader could soon become the target of a similar military action, saying it would be “inappropriate.”
No recent laws without electoral law
Trump also focused on legislative demands for Congress during his speech and at the news conference, calling on House Republicans to restructure a bill they have already passed This would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and an ID to vote, among other changes.
Trump said he wanted to include three additional elements in a recent bill.
The first would be statewide restrictions on mail-in ballots unless the person is a military member stationed abroad, someone with a disability, someone who is unwell or someone who is traveling.
Trump urged Republican lawmakers to add a provision that would require “no men to participate in women’s sports” and language that would bar transgender youth from surgeries.
“This might be the easiest thing you’ve ever had,” he said.
Trump said that if House Republicans passed the revised bill, Republicans would “win the midterm elections at a rate you can’t even believe.”
He expressed confidence that Senate Republicans would be able to push such a bill through that chamber, but did not elaborate on how that would happen if the 60-vote filibuster is still in effect.
“We’re not going to sign a watered-down version like what we were told up there. Let’s go for gold and just accept nothing else,” Trump said. “I’ll tell you what, I’m just willing to say I won’t sign anything until this is approved. I really do.”
Democrats unmoved
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said during a speech earlier in the day that Trump’s position would not change Democrats’ minds that the legislation was “Jim Crow 2.0.”
“Donald Trump is basically saying that he is willing to hold the rest of the country hostage unless Congress helps him undermine democracy,” Schumer said. “That’s what he does. He’s a bully, he’s a bully. He can never argue about the issue, so he threatens.”
Schumer said that would mean any bills passed by Congress to lower the cost of living would not take effect.
“No bill to lower gas prices. No bill to increase food affordability. No bill to increase housing. Not until the Save Act is passed. That’s what Donald Trump is saying,” Schumer said. “Democrats will make sure that never happens.”
