JUST IN: President Trump agrees with VP JD Vance in refusing to call the months-long U.S. military action in Iran a war, instead calling it a “military conflict” and describing the whole thing as “small potatoes” to the United States.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 — President Donald Trump on Friday aligned with Vice President JD Vance in downplaying the months-long U.S. action against Iran, calling it a “military conflict” and “small potatoes” for the United States rather than a war.

TRUMP MINIMIZES THE CONFLICT
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump rejected the “war” label that has been used by critics and some media outlets.

“A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing. We did Venezuela, and we did this,” Trump said.

He said the term didn’t matter as long as the U.S. was having “tremendous success.”

“I don’t think it matters what you call it. What matters is the fact that we have had tremendous success.”

Trump described the fighting as “intermittent” and said there had been “no shooting for days.” He also suggested the conflict could be nearing an end:
“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take.”

The President said 18 U.S. service members have died in the operation, comparing it to the far higher casualties of the Vietnam War.

VANCE SET THE TONE A DAY EARLIER
Trump’s remarks came one day after VP JD Vance told reporters he would not characterize the confrontation as a war.

“I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance said on Sept. 3 during a White House briefing, noting there had been “no active shooting” at the time.

Vance said the administration was keeping its options open, including “economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure,” but would keep specifics private.

SIX MONTHS OF TRADING FIRE
The U.S.-Iran confrontation has now stretched past six months and into its seventh.