Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 — Amid escalating U.S.–Israel military operations against Iran, there had been widespread expectations that U.S. President Donald Trump would deliver a formal national address today. However, a White House official has now indicated that no televised address is currently scheduled.
Earlier reports from Axios, cited by Reuters, suggested President Trump was preparing a Saturday morning speech to update Americans on the ongoing strikes targeting Iranian military installations, missile facilities and nuclear-linked infrastructure.
Instead of a traditional address from the Oval Office or the White House briefing room, President Trump released an eight-minute video message on Truth Social. In the video, he confirmed the launch of what he described as “major combat operations” in Iran.
He characterised the actions as “massive and ongoing,” stating that the objectives include destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, neutralising naval threats and preventing risks to U.S. national security. In a striking remark, he urged Iranian civilians to “take over your government” once operations conclude, framing the strikes as an opportunity for political change within Iran.
Why no formal address?
While the White House has not provided detailed reasoning, officials indicated that the President’s video message serves as the administration’s primary communication for now. It remains unclear whether a live national address could still be scheduled later depending on developments.
What happens next?
With operations described as ongoing and regional tensions rising rapidly, further updates are expected from U.S. defence officials and the White House. Markets and global leaders are closely monitoring whether the conflict expands or triggers broader geopolitical fallout.
As of this moment, President Trump is not expected to deliver a formal televised address today, but the situation remains fluid.