Trump defends military action as necessary, calls market impact minimal, and urges China’s role in securing oil routes while global tensions continue to reshape diplomatic priorities.
A proposal to feature Donald Trump on a new $250 banknote has sparked debate over US currency laws and traditions. (Photo: X/@WhiteHouse)
US President Donald Trump struck an optimistic note on the ongoing Iran conflict, saying he believes the fighting may not drag on for too long and could end sooner than many expect, with the outcome, in his view, making the world more secure.
His comments come at a moment when tensions are running high across the Middle East, with military strikes, uncertain diplomacy, and nervous financial markets all reacting to the fast-changing situation. Trump also signalled a shift in his diplomatic calendar, choosing to remain in Washington instead of travelling abroad.
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Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the conflict could be “wrapped up soon”.
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“It won’t be long. And we’re going to have a much safer world when it’s wrapped up. It’ll be wrapped up soon. We’re going to have a much safer world. I had an obligation to do this. I didn’t want to,” Trump said.
He argued that the risks of inaction would have been far greater. “You want to see a stock market go down? Start letting them hit you with nukes,” Trump said, defending the decision to proceed with military action.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Trump indicated that his planned visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping may be deferred by about a month. According to CNN, the US side has requested a delay, with Trump stressing that his presence in the country was important at this stage.
“We’re speaking to China. I would love to go, but because of the war, I want to be here,” he said.
“We have requested that we delay it a month or so, and I’m looking forward to meeting with him,” said Trump, adding: “We’ve got a war going on. I think it’s important that I be here. So it could be that we delay it a little bit, not much.”
The visit, earlier expected between late March and early April, has not been rescheduled yet.
The White House had earlier hinted at a possible postponement. Trump has also been urging China to play a role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said Beijing had a stake in the issue, noting that China depends heavily on oil shipments through the strait.
On the economic front, Trump acknowledged that markets had reacted to the developments but described the impact as limited. “It’s a very small price to pay,” he said, adding that he had anticipated a sharper decline.
Calling the situation a “high-level chess game”, Trump said he was dealing with “very smart players” and suggested that the broader objective was global stability.
Separately, he said he remained open to engaging with Iran, though uncertainty over its leadership made dialogue difficult. “We don’t even know who they are,” he said, referring to the current situation within the Iranian leadership.
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