Nearly a month into the conflict, Trump privately conveyed to advisers that he sees the war as entering its final stages. White House officials had planned a mid-May summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, expecting the conflict to be resolved beforehand.
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Despite this, Trump faces limited options for ending the war, with peace negotiations still in early stages. The president has sometimes shifted his attention to other priorities, including the upcoming midterm elections, immigration enforcement, and voter eligibility legislation, viewing the war as a distraction. Some allies hope he will pivot to foreign policy challenges like Cuba, while close advisers emphasise addressing domestic concerns such as rising costs of living exacerbated by the conflict, the WSJ report said.
“President Trump is extraordinarily skilled at multi-tasking and works on multiple challenges at the same time,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The President is laser focused on fully achieving the military objectives against the terrorist Iranian regime. The president’s sole focus is always victory.”
Recently, Trump has indicated renewed interest in diplomacy, walking back threats to strike Iran’s power plants. Middle Eastern intermediaries have exchanged proposals between Tehran and Washington, and U.S. officials are open to further discussions. At the same time, the Pentagon is reinforcing pressure on Iran, deploying additional troops to the Middle East.
Trump has floated the idea of securing U.S. access to some of Iran’s oil as part of a potential deal, though no planning is underway. He is prepared to escalate military action if Tehran does not negotiate, but is reluctant to commit U.S. troops on Iranian soil, partly to avoid prolonging the conflict. So far, the war has left 13 Americans dead and nearly 300 wounded.Those close to Trump note his decisions have varied between diplomacy and military escalation. Some advisers encourage a harder stance, viewing regime change in Iran as a potential legacy-defining achievement, the report says. However, ending the war is not solely within Trump’s control. Tehran has rejected direct talks, and the Strait of Hormuz remains vulnerable, with potential impacts on the global energy market. Israel continues its independent operations, and Gulf countries are considering retaliatory measures.
Meanwhile, Trump has directed the U.S. military to maintain pressure on Iran, with thousands of additional ground troops deployed to provide options for rapid strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the U.S. approach as “negotiating with bombs.” Trump said he was aware some military leaders were disappointed that the conflict could end soon, noting that they prioritized victory over settlement.
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The president has characterised the war as a temporary “excursion” or “military operation,” drawing confidence from the January military operation in Venezuela, according to the report.
Domestically, Trump faces political pressures, as the war and economic concerns may affect Republican prospects in the midterms. Despite these challenges, Trump has continued engaging with political events, attending a fundraising gala at Mar-a-Lago while noting that the war “is going very well.”
