WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening, April 1, 2026, providing updates on ongoing military operations and celebrating recent achievements, as recorded by The Associated Press:
The president opened his remarks by praising NASA and the astronauts aboard Artemis II, noting the historic mission will travel farther than any previous crewed spacecraft. “It will be traveling further than any manned rocket has ever flown and will very substantially pass the moon, go around it and come back home from a distance that has never been done before,” Trump stated. “God bless those four unbelievable astronauts.”
Trump then turned to military matters, detailing Operation Epic Fury, which he said began one month ago against Iran. According to the president, U.S. forces have achieved significant victories in just four weeks of combat. “Tonight, Iran’s navy is gone. Their air force is in ruins. Their leaders, most of them, terrorist regime, they led, are now dead,” Trump declared. He added that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard command structure is being destroyed and their missile capabilities severely damaged.
The president claimed unprecedented military success, stating: “Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating large-scale losses in a matter of weeks.”
Trump also referenced military action in Venezuela, describing it as completed “in a matter of minutes.” He said the U.S. now works with Venezuela as “joint venture partners” in oil and gas production, helping America achieve energy independence from the Middle East.
Explaining the rationale for Iranian operations, Trump emphasized his longstanding opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “From the very first day I announced my campaign for president in 2015, I vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said. He characterized Iran’s government as having chanted “Death to America, death to Israel” for 47 years and blamed them for numerous attacks on American forces and the October 7 attacks in Israel.
The president detailed previous actions against Iran during his presidency, including the elimination of General Qassem Soleimani and withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement. He criticized former President Obama’s deal, claiming it included $1.7 billion in cash payments that Iran used to advance their weapons programs.
Trump revealed that in June, he ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in “Operation Midnight Hammer,” using B-2 bombers to destroy nuclear sites. When Iran attempted to rebuild elsewhere, he said it proved their continued commitment to nuclear weapons development.
The president outlined clear military objectives: dismantling Iran’s ability to threaten America, eliminating their navy and air force, and destroying their defense infrastructure. “Our armed forces have been extraordinary. There’s never been anything like it militarily,” Trump stated.
Acknowledging casualties, Trump honored 13 American service members killed in the operation. “Twice this past month, I have traveled to Dover Air Force Base,” he said, describing meetings with families who asked him to “finish the job.”
Trump thanked Middle Eastern allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain for their support. He addressed rising gas prices, blaming Iranian attacks on commercial oil tankers, but emphasized America’s energy independence through increased domestic production.
Highlighting economic strength, the president pointed to record stock market performance and massive foreign investment. “We built the strongest economy in history,” Trump declared, citing $18 trillion in investments and 53 record stock market highs in one year.
Looking ahead, Trump warned of intensified military action over the next two to three weeks. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong,” he stated. He said regime change wasn’t the goal but occurred due to leadership casualties, with new leaders being “less radical and much more reasonable.”
The president threatened to target Iran’s electrical infrastructure if no agreement is reached, while noting oil facilities remain untouched to allow for potential rebuilding. He emphasized complete military superiority: “We are unstoppable as a military force.”
Putting the conflict in historical perspective, Trump compared the 32-day operation to much longer previous wars, from World War I through Iraq. “The country has been eviscerated and essentially is really no longer a threat,” he concluded.
Trump ended his address by promising a future free from Iranian aggression and nuclear threats. “The United States will be safer, stronger, more prosperous and greater than it has ever been before,” he said. “May God bless the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, and may God bless the United States of America.”
