U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed a proposed offer of military assistance from the United Kingdom, stating that American forces no longer require support after gaining what he described as the upper hand in the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump made the remarks on Saturday in a post on his Truth Social platform while reacting to reports that Britain was considering deploying two aircraft carriers to the Middle East to support the military campaign.
Addressing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the U.S. leader suggested that the proposed support had come too late.
“The United Kingdom, our once great ally, maybe the greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer, but we will remember. We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won.”
The comments came after the British Ministry of Defence confirmed that the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales had been placed on a higher level of operational readiness, shortening the time required for deployment if necessary.
However, British officials clarified that the move does not automatically mean the warship will be deployed to the Middle East, noting that it may still be used for other scheduled operations, including exercises with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Trump later reiterated his position while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, saying the assistance would have been more useful earlier in the conflict.
“We don’t need them. It’s not the right time. It would have been nice to have had them two weeks ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president travelled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to attend a dignified transfer ceremony for six American service members killed during the conflict in Kuwait.
During the ceremony, Trump stood before the flag-draped coffins of the fallen soldiers and saluted as military personnel carried the remains from the aircraft.
Although he described the moment as “a very sad day,” the president defended the ongoing military campaign against Iran, insisting that the United States was decisively winning the war.
Trump also stirred debate with comments about Iran’s political future, suggesting that Washington should play a role in determining the country’s next leadership to prevent further hostilities.
“We don’t want to come back every five or ten years and do this again. We want to pick a president that’s not going to lead the country into war,” he said.
He added that the United States has no plans to involve Kurdish armed groups in the conflict, explaining that the administration aims to avoid further complicating the war.
