<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The White House did not make a significant public acknowledgment on Friday of the six-month anniversary of the Iran war, a conflict that President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> had previously predicted would last only a few weeks.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Neither Trump nor his administration recognized the milestone as the war entered its seventh month, despite calls from Democrats and one Republican critic for an end to the conflict.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/white-house/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">White House</a> aides highlighted Trump’s accomplishments related to the war, which include aims such as Iran’s denuclearization and the reduction of its military capabilities, as well as the defunding of its regional proxies and regime change.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“As President Trump said, the Strait [of Hormuz] is open and all mines have been cleared,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated. “There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The naval blockade remains in full force and effect, and Operation Economic Outcast is underway to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining the regime.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/pentagon/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pentagon</a> similarly promoted Trump’s achievements in the Iran war, which began on February 28 following the president’s order to commence Operation Epic Fury in partnership with Israel, and has been linked to the deaths of 18 U.S. service members.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“U.S. forces have achieved every military objective assigned,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated. “CENTCOM intercepted thousands of Iranian drones and missiles, significantly degraded Iran’s ability to launch them, and destroyed up to 90% of Iran’s drone, ballistic missile, and naval industrial base. Furthermore, U.S. warships engaged in arguably the most intense combat at sea the Navy has seen since World War II, executing decisive strikes and sinking the Iranian navy with exceptional tactical precision. And American forces functionally destroyed Iran’s space capability.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While some Republicans have voted to limit Trump’s war powers in opposition to the conflict, one of the few GOP lawmakers to comment on the anniversary was Rep. <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/thomas-massie/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas Massie</a> (R-KY), a long-time critic of the president who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger this year.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Today, we have been at War with Iran for SIX MONTHS,” Massie wrote on X. “The 1973 War Powers Act required Trump to withdraw forces within 90 days absent authorization from Congress. They ridiculously claimed to stop the war & restart new hostilities @ 91 days. We are past 180 days. End the War.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today, we have been at War with Iran for SIX MONTHS.<br /><br />The 1973 War Powers Act required Trump to withdraw forces within 90 days absent authorization from Congress.<br /><br />They ridiculously claimed to stop the war & restart new hostilities @ 91 days.<br /><br />We are past 180 days. End the War.</p>— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2093296141567754613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">August 28, 2026</a></blockquote> </div></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Democratic leaders criticized Trump’s actions in Iran on the anniversary.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Trump’s disastrous war in Iran has accomplished nothing but the depletion of American stockpiles and the weakening of our military standing. That’s what I call an abject failure,” Senate Minority Leader <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/chuck-schumer/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chuck Schumer</a> (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2093362871333802081?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">posted</a> on social media.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">House Minority Leader <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/hakeem-jeffries/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hakeem Jeffries</a> (D-NY) echoed similar sentiments, <a href="https://x.com/RepJeffries/status/2093322211352281591?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">labeling</a> it a “war of choice” and calling for War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s removal.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Donald Trump and Republican extremists promised no more failed wars. And then did the exact opposite. Pete Hegseth should be fired, the war must end and taxpayer dollars should be spent to make life more affordable,” Jeffries stated.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senate Majority Leader <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/john-thune/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">John Thune</a> (R-SD) and House Speaker <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/mike-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) did not comment on the six-month mark of the war.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump spent Friday in Houston, where he presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and called the International Space Station after attending a <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/republican-national-committee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Republican National Committee</a> fundraiser the previous night.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When asked about Iran by reporters Thursday, Trump described the regime as being “in deep trouble” and having “very little capacity,” adding they are not “paying their troops.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Last night we took 24 boats through the Strait,” he said. “We’re taking them through all the time. I say it very openly. It doesn’t mean we’re finished with the military, but we are.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump also emphasized Treasury Secretary <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/scott-bessent/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scott Bessent’s</a> strategy for putting economic pressure on <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/iran/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Iran</a> amid a pause in military strikes and diplomatic negotiations following the collapse of the memorandum of understanding shortly after it was signed in June.</p>