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Right-wing media bizarrely suggest Trump's war in Iran is actually ending a decades-long war, not starting one

Written by Reed McMaster

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In the days since President Donald Trump started a war with Iran, right-wing media have argued that Trump did not start a war with Iran, but rather he is ending a “forever war.” Some have claimed the U.S. has “been at war” with Iran since the Iran hostage crisis of 1979, while others suggested that bombing Iran is an extension of Trump’s promise to bring peace because the conflict could create “peace in the region."

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  • The Trump administration is struggling to sell their war with Iran

    • On February 28, Trump announced that the U.S. was conducting “major combat operations” in Iran. In a social media post announcing the strikes, President Trump accused Tehran of waging an “unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States,” and cited the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. [CNN, 3/1/26; BBC, 3/3/26] 
    • Trump's decision to go to war with Iran is a direct violation of campaign promises he made in 2016 and 2024. As New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker noted, Trump in 2016 “promised to stop racing to topple foreign regimes,” and in 2024 “boasted of starting ‘no new wars.’” Baker then added, “Mr. Trump is racing to topple foreign regimes, and is sending American sons and daughters to wage another war in the Middle East. The self-declared ‘president of PEACE’ has chosen to become the president of war.” [The New York Times, 2/28/26]
    • MAGA media has erupted into bitter infighting over the conflict, with notable figures like Tucker Carlson calling it “absolutely disgusting and evil.” [Media Matters, 3/2/26]
    • Americans are largely critical of the decision to enter war with Iran, with early polls showing nearly 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of taking military action in the country. As Axios notes, “If early polling is any indication, the White House's reasoning isn't resonating with Americans.” [Axios, 3/4/26]
       

  • Right-wing media figures have insisted Trump did not start a war with Iran — because the United States was already at war

    • Wall Street Journal editor-at-large Gerry Baker claimed America has been at war with Iran “essentially for 47 years.” He said, “I find this argument that some Democrats have had — that there's no case for war, there was no imminent threat, we were not immediately under real menace from the Iranian regime — to be, frankly, ridiculous. America has been at war with Iran essentially for 47 years. The first acts, remember the very first acts of that Iranian revolutionary government back in 1979 was to take American diplomats hostage, hold them hostage for more than 400 days.” [Fox News, America Reports, 3/4/26]
    • Podcaster and former deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino argued Iran struck first, pointing to incidents like the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings. He said, “On the Iranians, there has already been a first strike, and a second strike, and a third strike. IEDs overseas in war theaters designed by Iranian proxies, the Beirut barracks, targeting on U.S. soil of foreign ambassadors. It's already happened.” [Rumble, The Dan Bongino Show, 3/2/26]
    • Newsmax host Greg Kelly suggested Trump didn't break his promise of no new wars because “he is ending a war that started in 1979.” He claimed, “For those who say, Oh, President Trump promised no new wars, I just don't see it that way. I see it as he is ending a war that started in 1979 when they took our hostages.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 3/3/26]
    • Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen wrote in the Washington Post, “Trump is not starting a forever war in Iran; he’s ending one.” He wrote, “For 47 years, the Iranian regime has been waging war against the United States. That war began in 1979, when Iran seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.” [The Washington Post, 3/3/26]
    • Newsmax guest Mike Sarraille argued that the U.S. didn’t declare war, “Iran did in 1979.” He added, “What people fail to realize is that we didn't declare war here. Iran did in 1979, when they raided our embassy and took 52 Americans hostage. It's just taken a presidency this long, with a moral clarity and the moral courage to actually do what must be done. And I think Mike Waltz said it to the UN beautifully. The price of inaction is greater than the burden of decisive action. This is long overdue.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 3/2/26]
    • Fox host Jesse Watters claimed “We've been at war with these people since 1979.” Responding to MSNOW host Rachel Maddow questioning why we're at war, Watters said, “I don't know why people are surprised. Rachel Maddow doesn't know why we’re at war? There has been an armada building in the gulf for a month. Hannity, at 9 o'clock opposite of her, has been covering it every night while she's been covering Epstein and she doesn't know why? Call a source. Call someone in the deep state. They will explain it to you. We've been at war with these people since 1979.” [Fox News, The Five, 3/3/26]
    • Fox News guest Julian Epstein defended Trump's strikes on Iran by arguing that “Iran has been at war with the United States for decades.” He claimed, “Iran has been declaring open war against the United States since 1979. … Iran has been at war with the United States for decades." [Fox News, Fox News Live, 2/28/26]
    • CBS News’ head Bari Weiss’ outlet The Free Press published an article titled “Our 50-Year War with Iran.” Senior editor Peter Savodnik claimed, “The Islamists who seized power in 1979 and have been waging a holy war against the West—the United States, the Anglosphere, Europe and, of course, the only truly Western outpost in the Middle East, Israel—ever since.” [The Free Press, 3/1/26]
    • Fox News guest and Hudson Institute senior fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs claimed that Trump “has not started this war. We're ending the war.” [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 3/5/26]
    • Newsmax host Chris Plante argued the U.S. has been in an “asymmetric war” since 1979. He said, “The United States has been engaged in a low-level, asymmetric war with Iran because Iran has been waging war against us since November 4, 1979, when they overran our embassy, and they have been killing Americans on and off ever since.” [Newsmax, The Right Squad, 3/4/26]
       

  • Right-wing media claimed Trump’s war with Iran will stop “ the forever war” and bring peace to the Middle East

    • Julian Epstein claimed Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for striking Iran. He claimed, “What I think Donald Trump is doing is heroic. I think if this is successful, it will be something that could qualify him once again for a Nobel Peace Prize, and I think it’s very, very long overdue.” [Fox News, Fox News Live, 2/28/26] 
    • Newsmax guest Dan Diker claimed war with Iran was to “end the forever war.” He claimed, “This is a long war, Israel and the United States have come in to end the forever war.” [Newsmax, Wake Up America, 3/2/26]
    • Newsmax host Rob Finnerty suggested war with Iran could be about preventing a future war. He said, “No new wars. And after 14 months, that is exactly what we have, a new war. But it might be the war that prevents a future war. And that could be what this is all about. I hope that's what this is all about.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 3/3/26]
    • Finnerty insisted Iran is “not a forever war” but instead a “war to end forever wars.” He said, “Iran is not a forever war. In fact, right now Iran has been a war to end forever wars. Right now, I'm not even sure it is a war. Not yet.” [Newsmax, Finnerty, 3/4/26]
    • Fox News contributor Kellyanne Conway claimed Trump is promoting “peace through strength” which “includes dealing with the enemy.” She said, “Look, how loudly and for how long did we need to hear death to America, death to Israel out of these rapist, murderous thugs who have terrorized Americans — responsible for killings of thousands of Americans over the years, and other people — before we were going to take action? The Democrats always want to rule foreign policy through press release and symbolic resolutions and social media posts. President Trump is peace through strength. And yes, peace often includes dealing with the enemy, dealing with the savagery.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 3/4/26]
    • On his radio show, Fox News host Sean Hannity claimed it was a “real possibility” that the war leads to peace in the region. He stated, “My hope and prayer is that the end result of this is peace in the region that we have not seen in, what, a thousand years for crying out loud. And I think it's going to be a real possibility. The president's relationship with Gulf State countries, the president's relationship with other countries in the region, the president's special relationship with Israel. I think when this is all said and done — and hopefully, the Iranian people will rise to the occasion.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/4/26]
    • Hannity praised the “wisdom” of Trump’s attacks and insisted war with Iran makes the world “a safer place” and will bring “a peace that hopefully is lasting in the Middle East.” He claimed, “It's in our best national interest, it's in our best national security interest, and it's in our kids’ and grandkids’ best interest. And the world is a safer place. And I think on the other side of this, my hope is that we're going to see a peace that hopefully is lasting in the Middle East.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/4/26]