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Trump Has Not Ruled Out a U.S. Military Draft amid Iran War, Says Press Secretary: 'Keeps His Options on the Table'
The White House's Rapid Response team denied plans for a military draft, writing on X, "She didn't say anything close to this. You just made it up"
Michael NiedTue, 10 March 2026 at 12:40 am SGT
4 min read
Donald Trump and Karoline Leavitt in July 2025
Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Donald Trump had not ruled out the idea of reopening a military draft
- While she said that the military action in the Middle East, where at least six United States service members have already perished, will "continue to be" focused on air strikes, she didn't say Trump was committed to not deploying troops into the country
- The White House's Rapid Response team denied plans for a draft, writing on X of Leavitt, "She didn't say anything close to this. You just made it up"
The 79-year-old president launched an air assault against the Middle Eastern country on Feb. 28. Since then, he's worked in tandem with Israel in what he says is a military effort intended to bring about regime change and eliminate the country's ability to develop nuclear weapons.
In a Saturday, March 7 post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran was "being beat to hell."
Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump speak to the press in October 2025
Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty
During a Sunday, March 8 appearance on Fox News, Leavitt said that, for the moment, the strikes against Iran "will continue to be" focused on an air campaign.
Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo asked Leavitt for her response to the concern that "moms are worried we're gonna have a draft."
The press secretary said a draft wasn't currently being discussed.
"President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table. I know a lot of politicians like to do that quickly, but the president, as commander in chief, wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation," she told Bartiromo.
Leavitt continued, adding, "It's not part of the current plan right now, but the president, again, wisely keeps his options on the table."
"As commander in chief, there's no greater priority or responsibility to this president than, of course, protecting the American people and our troops and bases in the Middle East, which Iran has been threatening for 47 years. They have killed and maimed thousands of American soldiers," she said.
Trump, Leavitt added, "was not going to allow Iran to attack our bases and our troops and our men and women in the Middle East first. And that's why he took historic action by launching 'Operation Epic Fury.' "
The White House's Rapid Response team was quick to say that Leavitt's words were misunderstood, writing on X, in response to a user who posted "Trump might institute a DRAFT": "She didn’t say anything close to this. You just made it up."
The United States has not called a military draft since the Vietnam War in the '70s. However, male citizens of the country are still required to register with the Selective Service System when they turn 18.
Donald Trump in March 2026
Credit: Getty
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The information could theoretically be used to reopen a draft at some point in the future.
Former Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also shared her thoughts on Leavitt's words, posting on X: “Karoline Leavitt doesn’t rule out a draft. How about the answer is NO DRAFT AND NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND because we campaigned on NO MORE FOREIGN WARS OR REGIME CHANGE!!! Liars every single one of them! Not my son, over my dead body!!!!!”
On Saturday, Trump paid tribute to the six U.S. service members who died as a result of the war in Iran when the country targeted a makeshift military base in Kuwait.
In a March 1 address shared by the White House, the president addressed the deaths, saying that "sadly, there will likely be more before [the war] ends. That's the way it is. Likely be more."
“But, we’ll do everything possible where that won't be the case, but America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against, basically, civilization," he added.
He reiterated the idea that "some people will die," telling Time, "When you go to war, some people will die" in a feature published on Thursday, March 5.
Read the original article on People
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/trump-not-ruled-u-military-164053291.html
