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The U.S. is at war with Iran.

Or, well, technically not, because that would require congressional approval, which didn’t happen.

And it’s only going to last a few weeks, according to President Donald Trump. But at the same time, it could go on forever?

A ground invasion would be a waste of time, according to the president. But he and his administration won’t rule out boots on the ground. And oh yeah, they’re pretty sure Americans will die. Because, as the president says, that’s what happens: “When you go to war, some people will die.”

And definitely don’t worry about the U.S. doing all this for regime change, because Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised that’s not the case. Except, uh, Trump said explicitly that there won’t be any deal with Iran except “unconditional surrender” with the selection of an “acceptable” new leader.

But the good news is that the U.S. doesn’t need to worry about retaliation from Iran — probably, Trump guesses. Literally.

Cool!

This is just a smattering of the increasingly disjoined — and downright worrying — things the administration has said about what is pretty clearly a war by any other name. Much has already been said about U.S. officials’ inability to get their messaging together on explaining the rationale or objectives for this war, barring one obvious reason.

But as the situation develops, the messaging around how they expect things to play out is starting to take shape as well. And there is one consistent theme that is deeply troubling: Trump just doesn’t care.

Because if you were looking for reassurance from the leader of the free world, Trump’s messaging is not it.

― Trump, reflecting on the outcome of his war.

― Trump, on soaring gas prices as a result of his widening conflict.

― Trump, elaborating on the outcome.

― Trump, when asked if U.S. citizens should be worried about retaliatory attacks from Iran on American soil.

― Trump, speaking in his 2024 election night address.

― Trump, clearly preparing his next big foreign intervention, told CNN’s Dana Bash this unprompted.

― Trump, dismissing concerns about what will transpire in Iran after the bombs stop falling.

― Trump, speaking to Secretary of State Marco Rubio during an unrelated event at the White House.

― Trump, addressing the Iranian people after he ordered the massive bombing campaign.

― Trump, speaking with CNN. A reminder that U.S. missiles struck a girls’ elementary school in the opening salvo of the war, killing up to 175 people, most of them under 12 years old.

― Trump, speaking with ABC’s Jon Karl, repeatedly described the war as a “performance.”

― Trump, predicting how long the U.S. campaign in Iran will last.

― Trump, sharing his war timeline with CNN.

― Trump, reflecting on regime change in Iran in an interview with The New York Times.

― Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, addressing the media on Monday after the war began.

― Trump, laying out his goals for the war, basically defines regime change. Trump also said he wants to pick Iran’s next leader.

― Hegseth complained that the “fake news” should stop reporting about dead troops because “the press only wants to make the president look bad.”

― White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, attempting to explain Trump’s rationale for war.

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