TRUMP: ‘PLENTY OF TIME, PATIENCE, AMMUNITION’: No matter what happens in the war with Iran, President Donald Trump’s public face is always one of unbridled optimism. Such was the case on Air Force One, as Trump headed for a rally in Michigan.Is the war going poorly after 150 days? No way. “They requested a meeting,” he told reporters traveling with him. ”They would not have requested the meeting if we were doing poorly.”Running low on interceptor missiles? “No, no, we have plenty,” Trump insisted. “More than we could ever use, no matter what. But we have a lot. I’d like to have more, to be honest …We’re in very good shape. But for some of the more sophisticated stuff, we’d certainly like to have more.”
Frustrated that Iran won’t make or keep a deal? “I have a lot of patience. I have plenty of time,” Trump said. “And we’re talking right now. They wanted to talk. Their people said, please don’t shoot last night, the night before, two nights. Don’t do it. We’re having good talks. ““I think there’s a good chance that something could happen. And if it does, good. If it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”TRUMP SAYS US ‘MAY’ HAVE NEW PRESIDENT IN 2029 AND LIKENS IRAN WAR TO ‘PLAYING A BANJO’WES CLARK: ‘EITHER GET IN OR GET OUT’: Retired Army Gen. Wes Clark, who as NATO’s top commander in 1999 waged a successful war in Yugoslavia — even as his hands were tied by the unwillingness of the allied nations to employ ground forces — warns that Trump’s on-again, off-again air war with Iran is sending a message of weakness and desperation to Iran. “When you do a bombing pause like this, what you’re telling the enemy is, ‘I need your help. Please get me out of this fix,’” Clark said yesterday on CNN, where he is a paid contributor. “If they wanted to negotiate, they would have come to us and there would be no reason to have a bombing pause. But this is an indication to the Iranians that we’re weak. It’s an indication to China and Russia that we’re weak.”“What we learned about the American people during the Vietnam War is they will tell you this: ‘Either get in or get out,’” Clark said, arguing that at this point there is no easy way out. “You may not be able to find a middle ground, and I know we’re searching for that, but the fact is that the Iranians still have their missiles. The Chinese and Russians or supporting them. We have not isolated Iran from outside assistance. The IRGC feels that they’re winning. We have not opened the Strait of Hormuz. And so from their perspective, they’re on top.”“Obviously China and Russia will read this. So, it has global implications. So, it’s really consequential,” Clark said. “But if you go forward and you start putting ground troops in there … and you’re not prepared to go all the way and you don’t tell Russia and China to back off. You’re just creating a morass, a real quagmire.”“He’s certainly running out of easy options,” Clark said.TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DENIES INTERCEPTOR SHORTAGE LED TO PAUSE IN IRAN WARTIME FOR GROUND TROOPS? We don’t exactly know what advice Trump is getting from his military commanders, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Central Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, but we do know Trump is very reluctant to commit ground troops to either take full control of the Strait of Hormuz, or topple the new regime which is even more hardline than the last one.On Fox News over the weekend, former Deputy Commander of CENTCOM retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward said he thinks Trump may be coming to the realization that negotiations are going nowhere. “He tried the MOU, he gave them the opportunity. They responded with aggression, going after the Strait,” Harward told Fox News’s Peter Doocy. “So I think the President’s preparing to go the full way on this and that’s why part of this break in the effort — [to], position forces and be prepared to go to the next step of escalation.”“I think the real options they may be preparing now for is boots on the ground, to really show the Iranian people that we’re moving to the end of this government in Iran,” Harward said “I think that’s what he’s come to.”Harward said, “There’s no doubt that Russia and China are involved. This is in their strategic efforts … They’re assisting and providing enablers. Is it with material? Is it with intelligence? Anything they can get away with.”Trump continues to downplay evidence provided by Ukraine that Russia is providing satellite imagery to help Iran to precisely target U.S. bases in the Gulf and kill American troops. Asked by a reporter on Air Force One about it, “ Trump brushed it aside. Well, we will find out if that’s true. I will ask Putin about it. We will find out,” he said. “ Hasn’t had much impact, because we have knocked the hell out of them, wouldn’t you think, if that’s the case.’CHINA’S MANIFESTLY GREATER THREAT: WHY GEN. DAN CAINE IS WARNING TRUMP ABOUT IRAN MUNITIONSGood Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre). Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSEHAPPENING TODAY: This afternoon’s funeral service for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is bringing both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington to pay their final respects to the man who was a steadfast supporter of both their countries.But before they join President Trump and the other luminaries at the 2 p.m. memorial service at Washington’s National Cathedral, both will have important morning meetings with Trump at the White House, Zelensky at 9:30 a.m. and Netanyahu at 11 a.m.“Priority number one is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace must become closer,” Zelensky posted on X, as he arrived in D.C. “Of course, on behalf of all of Ukraine, we will honor the memory of Lindsey Graham and, together with everyone at the ceremony in Washington, recall his efforts for security and freedom in the Euro-Atlantic region and other parts of the world.”In a message he posted on X, Netanyahu said Iran will be at the forefront of his discussions with Trump. “Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel’s security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace around us,” he said, adding “I will also pay my last respects to a true friend of mine and of the State of Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham — one of Israel’s greatest friends of all time.”TRUMP TO TELL ZELENSKY IT’S ‘TIME TO END THE WAR’PENTAGON BEGINS TO DISENGAGE FROM NATO: As the U.S. under the Trump administration seeks to shift almost all of the burden for protecting NATO nations to Europe, the Pentagon has begun an extensive review of how the U.S. can scale back its commitment to NATO.In a series of posts on X, Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s No. 3 civilian in charge of policy, said the review “will ensure that U.S. force posture in Europe reflects the 2025 National Security Strategy and the 2026 National Defense Strategy,” which downplays the threat from Russia, and suggests Europe should be more than capable of defending itself.“Moscow is in no position to make a bid for European hegemony,” the 2026 NDS states. “European NATO dwarfs Russia in economic scale, population, and, thus, latent military power … It follows that, although we are and will remain engaged in Europe, we must—and will—prioritize defending the U.S. Homeland and deterring China.”“The review,” Colby writes on X. “will further the goal of fully restoring NATO’s character as a powerful warfighting organization – a NATO 3.0. This will put NATO on the track for lasting, sustained success, especially as we confront simultaneous challenges across theaters.”In a speech to NATO defense ministers last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised alliance members for not joining President Trump’s war in Iran or allowing full access to its European bases. “When we asked for their help, and too many failed,” Hegseth said. “Too many of our allies said no, or tried to drown us in arcane legal debates, or criticized us publicly for doing what they aren’t prepared or able to do themselves. It was shameful.”“And so, we’re doubling down on our effort to make NATO what it always was supposed to be, a balanced alliance with Europe in the lead for its own defense, NATO 3.0 and to make that a reality,” Hegseth said. OPINION: A SAUDI NUCLEAR DEAL WORTH MAKINGTHE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Trump to tell Zelensky it’s ‘time to end the war’Washington Examiner: Trump administration denies interceptor shortage led to pause in Iran war as Pentagon announces new contractsWashington Examiner: Pentagon updates Iran war casualty numbers with new list separate from Operation Epic Fury tallyWashington Examiner: Opinion: China’s manifestly greater threat: Why Gen. Dan Caine is warning Trump about Iran munitionsWashington Examiner: Trump says US ‘may’ have new president in 2029 and likens Iran war to ‘playing a banjo’Washington Examiner: A final Lindsey Graham moment in DC, South CarolinaWashington Examiner: Senate advances nomination of Jay Clayton to lead intel communityWashington Examiner: McConnell ‘not yet cleared’ to leave rehab to return to CongressWashington Examiner: Opinion: A Saudi nuclear deal worth makingABC News: Why Trump Held Off on Latest Iran Escalation Threat: SourcesWall Street Journal: Two Wars Converge in the Caspian Sea as Ukraine Hits Iranian Supply Line to RussiaAP: Zelensky and Britain’s New Leader Discuss Drone Projects and Missile Defense for KyivWall Street Journal: Impressed by Ukraine’s Battlefield Gains, Trump Warms to ZelenskyDefense News: Pentagon Calls for Cheaper Long-Range Strike Weapons, with Testing in Just 3 MonthsThe War Zone: Australian MQ-28 Ghost Bat Fighter Drones Could Be Commanded by US PilotsWashington Post: Deadly US Boat Strikes Have Failed to Curb Cocaine Supply, Pentagon and DEA Officials SayBreaking Defense: Pentagon Inks Deal with L3Harris to Ramp Rocket Motor ProductionBreaking Defense: America’s Fighter Force Is Running Out of MarginNational Defense Magazine: Air Force Must Fix Fleet Age, Size, Readiness Issues, Undersecretary SaysAir & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force’s Massive REFORPAC Exercise Will Add More Allies, Joint Forces in 2027Air & Space Forces Magazine: Second Test B-52 Being Modified with New Radar After June CrashAir & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Picks Rocket Lab for Suborbital Launches from AlaskaAir & Space Forces Magazine: CMSAF Challenges Airmen with New Workouts: ‘Let’s See What You’ve Got!’THE CALENDAR: TUESDAY | JULY 28 11 a.m. — Foreign Policy Research Institute virtual discussion: “The Steel Triangle: The Future of a Shipbuilding Alliance,” with Jonathan Caverley, professor of strategy at the Naval War College and visiting senior fellow of the International Institute for Strategic Studies; Luke Collin, principal for the Asia Group; Peter Dombrowski, professor at the Naval War College’s Strategic Research Department; and Shihoko Goto, vice president of programs and director, FPRI Asia Program https://www.fpri.org/event/2026/the-steel-triangle-maritime-power11:30 a.m. — Atlantic Council Project for Middle East Integration virtual discussion: “Transforming IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Initiative) in response to the Iran war,” with Framcesco Talo, special envoy of Italy to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor; Rafael Dreyfus, founder, Cabynda; Maisson Kafafy, senior adviser, Atlantic Council Project for Middle East Integration; Afaq Hussein, nonresident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council Project for Middle East Integration; and Allison Minor, director, Atlantic Council Project for Middle East Integration https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/transforming-imec-in-response-to-the-iran-war/12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army “Noon Report,” webinar with Kevin Hymel, author, Patton’s War: An American General’s Combat Leadership Volume 3: January 1-December 21, 1945, highlighting Gen. George Patton’s battlefield leadership during World War II. https://www.ausa.org/events/noon-report/pattons-warWEDNESDAY | JULY 29 9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Future of U.S. Land Power,” with Undersecretary of the Army Mike Obadal; and Jerry McGinn, director, CSIS Center, Industrial Base and senior fellow of the CSIS Defense and Security Department https://www.csis.org/events/future-us-land-powerTHURSDAY | JULY 30 8 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, — Hudson Institute discussion: “Responding to Global Threats,” with Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) https://www.hudson.org/events/responding-global-threats8 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va — Potomac Officers Club “2026 Air and Space Summit,” with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne; and Deputy NASA Administrator Matt Anderson https://www.potomacofficersclub.com/events/2026-air-and-space-summit/9:30 a.m. Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: beginning at 9:30 a.m., on a new report, “Defeating the Drones: The Airman’s Imperative to Defend Against Small Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles,” with author retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, Mitchell Institute senior fellow; and retired Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, former commander, U.S. Northern Command https://afa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f1KgJjLESLaiZaHzepMZSg#/registration10 a.m. — Arab Center Washington D.C. virtual discussion: “The Board of Peace’s Gaza Plan: Broken or Working as Intended?” with Daniel Levy, president, U.S./Middle East Project; Mohammed Mhawish, Palestinian writer and journalist; Susan Akram, non-resident senior fellow of the Arab Center Washington D.C.; Dana El Kurd, non-resident senior fellow, Arab Center Washington D.C.; and Yousef Munayyer, head of the Arab Center D.C. Palestine/Israel Program and senior fellow, Arab Center Washington D.C. https://arabcenterdc.org/event/the-board-of-peaces-gaza-plan-broken-or-working-as-intended/FRIDAY | JULY 31 12 p.m. — Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies virtual discussion: “What Was the Founders Design for National Security Beyond the Battlefield?” with Alberto Coll, director, global engagement for Vincent de Paul and professor, law at Depaul University College of Law; Matthew Waxman, professor of law at Columbia School of Law; John Yoo, professor, of law at the University of California at Berkeley, senior research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin Civitas Institute School of Civic Leadership; and non-resident senior fellow of the American Enterprise Institute; and Molly Nixon, senior fellow in executive power at the Cato Institute https://fedsoc.org/events/what-was-the-founders-design-for-national-security
