Trump Boasts 'Score of 12 to 15' as US Military Operations Against Iran Enter Second Week
President Trump declared the US is performing exceptionally well in Iran, nearly a week after joint US-Israeli airstrikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Trump Declares US Operations in Iran an Overwhelming Success
President Donald Trump offered a glowing self-assessment of American military operations in Iran on Friday, describing the campaign as an extraordinary success nearly one week after the United States coordinated with Israel on a series of devastating airstrikes targeting Tehran — strikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
'I'd Give It a 12 to a 15'
When pressed on how he would rate the operation, Trump did not hold back. "Somebody said, 'How would you score it from zero to 10?' I said, 'I'd give it a 12 to a 15,'" the president stated confidently. He went on to describe the sweeping scope of the military campaign, noting that Iran's army, navy, communications infrastructure, and leadership had all been effectively dismantled. "Two sets of their leaders," he emphasized.
Trump made these remarks during a White House college sports roundtable, after Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy questioned what was motivating the president to hold such an event given the gravity of world events currently unfolding.
"That's right," Trump agreed, before elaborating further on the military's achievements. He stated that Iran's air force had been "wiped out entirely" and that all 32 of Iran's naval vessels now rest at the bottom of the ocean.
A Military Performance Trump Calls 'Phenomenal'
Trump praised the US Armed Forces in sweeping terms, describing their performance as nothing short of phenomenal. He framed the decision to launch military action as a necessary one, citing years of American casualties and injuries attributed to Iranian-backed aggression.
"We had a choice. We could take it and go on like that for years or do something about it. And we did something about it," Trump said.
The president also referenced earlier military actions, including B-2 bomber strikes that reportedly neutralized Iran's nuclear development capabilities, as well as recent operations in Venezuela. He suggested these combined actions have significantly elevated America's standing on the global stage.
"I think we're, right now, a country that's more respected than we've ever been respected before," Trump declared.
Russia's Role and a Pointed Dismissal
During the same event, Doocy informed Trump that reports were emerging suggesting Russia may be actively helping Iran target and attack American personnel. Trump dismissed the concern with notable brevity, calling it "an easy problem compared to what we're doing here" and characterizing the question as poorly timed given the setting.
Trump Demands 'Unconditional Surrender' From Iran
Earlier on Friday, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to lay out his position on any potential resolution to the conflict in stark, unambiguous terms. The United States, he wrote, would not consider any agreement with Iran short of unconditional surrender.
However, Trump also extended what appeared to be an olive branch for Iran's future, contingent on that surrender. He pledged that following the cessation of hostilities and the emergence of leadership deemed acceptable to the US and its allies, Washington and its partners would invest heavily in rebuilding the Iranian nation.
"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 wrote.
In characteristic fashion, the president closed his post with a rallying phrase: "IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).'"
The remarks signal that while the military phase of operations appears to be progressing according to plan in the administration's view, the diplomatic endgame remains firmly on Trump's terms.
