President Donald Trump appeared to reverse a key remark he made about the Iran war, with his later comments conflicting with what he’d said the day before.
At the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in South Florida on Friday (May 1), Trump — who turns 80 next month — spoke about owning the Trump National golf club in Miami and said he is “so busy” right now as the property is hosting a PGA Tour event.
He described someone complimenting the tournament, before shifting gears and steering the conversation toward the Iran war.
“I said, ‘What tournament are you talking about? I’m so busy with the Iranians calling, trying to make a good deal, and we’re not gonna let that happen.’ But… they’ve gotta make a bad deal. But… if they make a deal at all,” Trump said.
“Because frankly, maybe we’re better off not making a deal at all, do you want to know the truth. Because we can’t let this thing go on. It’s been going on too long.”
But the following day, Trump seemed to distance himself from those remarks, offering a different take that contradicted his earlier suggestion.
As he traveled to Doral for the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship at his golf club, he told reporters he was “looking at” a new peace proposal from Iran.
He then added: “They want to make a deal.”
A reporter referenced his comments from the night before, saying, “Last night you said we might be better off not making a deal with Iran.”
Trump rejected that characterization.
“Well, I wouldn’t have to. I didn’t say that.
“I said that if we left right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild. But we’re not leaving right now. We’re gonna do it so nobody has to go back in two years or five years,” the president said.
The moment comes as Trump faces fresh scrutiny in polling, with disapproval rising amid continued increases in US gas prices.
A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released on Sunday (May 3) found that 66 percent disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war, while 33 percent approve.
On economic concerns, the numbers were more severe: 23 percent approved of how he has handled rising prices, while 76 percent disapproved.
The same poll also suggested growing doubt about Trump’s capacity to lead, with 55 percent saying they do not believe he is in good enough physical shape to serve as president, and roughly six in ten stating they don’t think he has the mental sharpness for the job.