Fox News contributor Karl Rove predicted Wednesday that President Trump could resume military strikes on Iran after next week’s midterm elections, pointing to the growing U.S. military buildup in the region.
Rove made the remarks on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” on Fox News Radio.
“Knowing the president,” Kilmeade asked, “do you think we go back to kinetic action in Iran?”
“He has sort of signaled it,” said Rove, a former top adviser to President George W. Bush. “If you look at what’s happening on the ground — two aircraft carriers in the region, a third one on the way, plus enough ground forces, plus enough air assets. If I were the Iranians, I’d be certainly thinking that’s what’s coming my way after the election.”
Rove’s prediction lines up with recent reporting on the administration’s planning. CNN reported Monday that Trump is leaning toward major strikes after the midterms, citing a U.S. official who said an operation in Iran “will be a big effort.” Some officials familiar with internal military planning said it is a question of when, not if, Trump will give the order, according to the report.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration has privately warned several Gulf Arab governments to prepare for another intensive American military campaign after the Nov. 3 elections. According to the Journal, Trump has not officially approved an operation but is leaning toward strikes on Iranian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
Trump himself has openly floated escalating the conflict. During a Sunday appearance on Fox News, he asked whether he should negotiate with Iran or “finish them off.” At a campaign rally in Florida last week, he said, “We may do another little Epic Fury, or they’ll agree.”
Asked about his plans at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, Trump told reporters that “anything’s possible.”
The White House previously said no attacks would take place before the midterm elections but did not rule out strikes afterward.
The military buildup comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to shake up the Pentagon’s leadership. Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the military’s top planner, this week over alleged leaks of classified information related to the Iran war, according to a Pentagon official.
The U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran eight months ago. Trump has vowed to “finish the job.”
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