WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday said the conflict in Iran is “small potatoes” as he defended Vice President JD Vance for asserting that months of on-and-off attacks in the Middle East are not a “war.”
Asked during an Oval Office exchange about Vance’s comments made a day earlier, Trump noted that U.S. strikes on Iran are now “intermittent” and seemed to downplay the intensity of a war that's cost U.S. taxpayers more than $37.5 billion and left 18 U.S. service members dead.
“I can understand what he’s saying,” said Trump. He added, “I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing."
Vance on Thursday, during a White House press briefing, rejected the use of the word “war” to describe the U.S. fighting with Iran and steered clear of predicting that the 6-month-old conflict would be over by November’s midterm elections, in which Republicans are trying to hang on to their narrow majorities in Congress.
“I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance said after being asked during a White House press briefing about whether the fighting could end before voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 congressional elections. “Right now, there is no active shooting.”
Vance’s assertion came even as Iran fired at U.S. Gulf ally Kuwait on Thursday in retaliation for rounds of U.S. strikes on Iran earlier in the week.
Trump in Friday's exchange with reporters added that the U.S. death toll in the Iran conflict is relatively lower than some other recent U.S. wars. The U.S., along with Israel, have only carried out air strikes in the Iran war, which began on Feb. 28, and has not deployed troops into the country.
“We did Venezuela and we did this. In Venezuela, we lost nobody,” said Trump, referring to the January U.S. military operation to seize former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to New York City to face federal drug trafficking charges. “And this, we lost 18 people. And, in Vietnam we lost 100,000 people. And in other conflicts, we lost tens of thousands of people.”
A total of 58,220 members of the U.S. armed forces died during the Vietnam War, according to records from the U.S. National Archives.
Pressed by a reporter on describing the conflict as “small potatoes" when 18 U.S. service members have been killed, Trump responded by reiterating his argument that the conflict—one that he said at the outset of the war would last a matter of weeks—has led to the defanging of Iran's nuclear program.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon because if they did you probably wouldn’t be standing here,” Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Donald Trump speaks and announces action to help farmers and ranchers with meat processing, as a group of farmers and ranchers stand behind, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
BERLIN (AP) — Saki Hayashi and Japan set records for three-pointers on the first day of the Women’s Basketball World Cup while Caitlin Clark also starred on her tournament debut for the United States on Friday.
Hayashi scored nine three-pointers to beat the previous record of eight as she helped Japan to a 102-97 win over Mali. Altogether, Japan scored 20 to beat its shared team record from 1994.
Mali led for most of the game before Mai Yamamoto brought Japan level for the first time at 79-79 with 6:30 left in the final quarter. Kokoro Tanaka completed the scoring with a free throw.
Aminata Sangare contributed 22 points for Mali. Her team had been looking for its second-ever World Cup win after beating Senegal in overtime in the 2010 tournament. Mali lost all five games at the last World Cup in Australia.
Clark had 14 points and 11 assists to help the U.S. beat China, which was led by 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu, 94-61 in its opener at the Max-Schmelling-Halle. It was the same Berlin venue where the U.S. defeated Russia in the final for the 1998 title, the country’s sixth.
Rhyne Howard also scored 14 points and Jackie Young added 12 for the Americans, who have won 31 consecutive World Cup games dating to a loss in the 2006 semifinals.
They next turn attention to Italy on Saturday as they bid for a fifth consecutive title.
France lived up to its billing as one of the favorites with a comprehensive 99-53 win over Hungary.
Dominique Malonga, Gabby Williams and Marine Johannes each scored 17 points for the Olympic silver medalist.
Awa Fam led Spain to another win over Germany, contributing 17 points in a dominant 83-53 victory.
Despite vocal support from home fans in the 14,000-seat Berlin Arena, Germany did not lead at any stage and has failed to beat Spain in eight competitive meetups.
Leonie Fiebich scored 13 points to lead Germany, followed by Nyara Sabally with 10.
Spain next plays Mali on Saturday, when Germany faces Japan.
Steph Talbot scored 19 points as Australia defeated Puerto Rico 70-54.
Australia lost its opening games at the last World Cup and at the Olympics, so the victory takes the pressure off coach Sandy Brondello’s team with the four group winners in the expanded 16-team tournament progressing straight to the quarterfinals.
Australia next faces Turkey on Sunday.
Emma Meesseman had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead European champion Belgium to the 89-75 victory. She scored nine of those points in the final two minutes of the third quarter as Belgium outscored Turkey 27-9 in the third period. Turkey held a 45-44 lead at the end of the first half.
Kennedy Burke scored 15 points to lead Turkey.
Cecilia Zandalasini led Italy to its first World Cup win upon its return to the tournament after 32 years, 63-54 over the Czech Republic.
Italy’s wait since 1994 was a team’s longest for appearances at the competition.
Zandalasini had 19 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Also, Park Ji-hyun scored 27 to lead South Korea to a 99-81 opening victory over Nigeria.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
United States' Caitlin Clark holds the trophy for the player of the game during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between China and the United States in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Spain's Awa Fam reaches for a ball against the defense of Germany's Leonie Fiebich during a Women's World Cup basketball game between Germany and Spain, in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Germany's Alexis Peterson in action during a Women's World Cup basketball game between Germany and Spain, in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Spain's Megan DiLeo looks to shoot against Germany's Leonie Fiebich during a Women's World Cup basketball game between Germany and Spain, in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Mali's Aminata Sangare, right, and Japan's Yuki Miyazawa during the women's World Cup basketball match between Mali and Japan, in Berlin Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
The Japanese team acknowledges fans after the women's World Cup basketball match between Mali and Japan, in Berlin Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Mali's Aminata Sangare and Japan's Yuki Miyazawa vie for the ball during the women's World Cup basketball match between Mali and Japan, in Berlin Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Japan's Mai Yamamoto, right, is challenged by Mali's Djeneba N Diaye during the women's World Cup basketball match between Mali and Japan, in Berlin Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Australian players react during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Australia and Puerto Rico in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Puerto Rico's Denise Solís and Australia's Jade Melbourne rebaound during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Australia and Puerto Rico in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Australia's Ezi Magbegor lays up during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between Australia and Puerto Rico in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
