Fox News anchor Bret Baier said that President Donald Trump expressed satisfaction with the progress of U.S. military operations against Iran, describing developments as ahead of schedule and better than expected. According to Baier, Trump said the administration had always maintained a plan and had benefited from what he described as highly effective intelligence gathering throughout the campaign. Trump reportedly told Baier that events on the ground had exceeded expectations and suggested that some internal opposition figures in Iran may be positioned to challenge the regime.
Baier also relayed Trump’s claim that dozens of Iranian leaders had been eliminated during the operation. According to the remarks, around 49 figures tied to Iran’s leadership structure were taken out, a move Trump said dramatically accelerated the campaign’s timeline. He reportedly added that such a process could have taken four to six weeks if officials had gone into hiding, but said U.S. intelligence knew where they were and acted quickly.
Baier then turned coverage over to Peter Doocy, who outlined what administration officials allegedly called the four-point checklist for “Operation Epic Fury.” According to Doocy, White House officials believed all four objectives had been met and that the campaign could soon begin winding down. He said Trump was expected to address the nation later that evening and emphasize military success.
Doocy cited large-scale operational numbers, claiming 13,000 combat flights had struck more than 12,000 targets while also destroying over 150 Iranian vessels. He said officials believed Iran’s industrial and weapons infrastructure had been heavily damaged and that the country’s ability to project military power had been sharply reduced.
The four stated objectives reportedly included destroying Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and production sites, crippling its navy, neutralizing regional proxy forces, and ensuring Iran could no longer obtain a nuclear weapon. The White House, according to Doocy, viewed these achievements as proof the campaign had succeeded.
The report also described growing tensions with U.S. allies. Trump was said to be frustrated with European nations over limited support and had allegedly used weapons aid to Ukraine as leverage in discussions about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Doocy also claimed Trump was deeply dissatisfied with NATO and was considering steps toward withdrawal, though key allies were reportedly unmoved.
Overall, the segment portrayed a White House eager to frame the operation as a decisive military victory while signaling that future U.S. foreign policy could rely less on traditional alliances and more on unilateral American action.
