WASHINGTON: Democrats sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump following his national address on the ongoing war in Iran, framing the conflict as deadly, costly, and lacking clear objectives.

In a 19-minute prime-time address from the White House, Trump described the conflict as a “decisive, overwhelming victory” and said the US was “getting very close” to finishing the “job” in Iran.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said. “In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.”

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Trump’s address was a failed attempt to justify a war that has already burdened Americans and strained the economy.

“Tonight, Americans watched Donald Trump desperately try to justify his deadly and costly war of choice in Iran that has killed over a dozen brave service members and injured hundreds more,” Martin said.

“Trump offered no new information to the American people and once again failed to give the public a clear rationale for his war, while he forces them to foot the bill to the tune of billions of dollars and causes their gas prices to skyrocket.”

Martin emphasised the domestic impact of the conflict, noting that the average price of a gallon of gasoline hit $4.00 on Tuesday — the largest monthly jump ever recorded.

“Trump and JD Vance have already spent $25 billion on their war, which could have funded a year of health care for more than three million Americans or food assistance for nearly 30 million children,” he said.

Martin also cited Goldman Sachs reporting that the war is costing the US economy 10,000 jobs per month.

In the DNC critique, Martin called out the administration for its failure to deliver on promises of peace.

“Trump and JD Vance sold voters on a ‘pro-peace,’ ‘America First’ vision for their administration, but it was all bullshit. Working families can’t pay their bills, but are stretching their budgets even further while Trump gives tax handouts to billionaires. I am praying for the continued safety of our brave men and women in uniform, their families, and the countless innocent lives being put in harm’s way.”

Polling cited by Martin indicates widespread public disapproval of the war. Two-thirds of Americans believe the US should end the conflict quickly, including 40 per cent of Republicans, while 60pc disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war.

Trump’s approval on the economy and inflation has also reached record lows, with just 31pc approving of his economic policies and nearly two-thirds saying his approach has worsened conditions.

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) pointed out that since Trump’s speech ended, oil prices “are up $5 a barrel and stock market futures are down 1pc”.

“Going to be a wild night on Truth Social. And I’m still not sure what the hell he said,” Himes quipped.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari termed Trump’s remarks of sending Iran to the “Stone Ages where they belong” as “vile, horrifying, evil”.

“He’s talking about a country of 90 million people,” the Democrat wrote on X.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett remarked it was “hard to say what was the biggest whopper in Trump’s desperate address attempting to justify his reckless war in Iran”.

He added, “I think the winner is his declaration that under his great leadership ‘no inflation’ in America. When you shop this week, you can be the judge of his claims. The remainder of his case for his war is equally unjustified.”

Public reactions to Trump’s prime‑time address noted that he was reiterating existing messaging rather than changing policy directions.

“My guess is he was trying to threaten Iran into making concessions, in the hopes they would fold,” said Jonathan A. Goff, a retired rocket engineer.

Peter Petrides, a retired police officer, added, “Thought his comment about ‘bombing them into the stone age’ was a pretty interesting perspective.”

An apparent Republican sympathiser, D. A. Ronin, pointed out that the media was not reporting that Iran was being absolutely destroyed and kept focusing on a diversionary trap like Hormuz, which was not a strategic priority for the US.

“So he took over their airwaves and reported it himself,” he added.

Trump ‘no closer to achieving ill-defined goals’: Democrats

Earlier, before Trump’s speech, Congressman Himes, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) had urged the president to announce an immediate ceasefire and pursue diplomatic negotiations.

“More than a month has passed since President Trump unilaterally launched his war of choice with Iran and he is no closer to achieving his ill-defined goals,” the lawmakers wrote.

“There has been no fundamental change to the Iranian regime to ensure that it will no longer be able to pursue a nuclear programme, build ballistic missiles, or support terrorist proxies. He has also failed to provide relief to the long-suffering people of Iran.”

The committees highlighted the human toll of the war.

“The staggering costs include the deaths of 13 US service members, hundreds more injured, and billions of dollars’ worth of munitions expended and military equipment damaged or destroyed. Thousands of Iranian civilians have been killed, including over 150 Iranian schoolgirls. And countless individuals have been radicalised against the United States thanks to Trump unleashing mass destruction,” the statement said.

The committee members reiterated their pre-speech warnings about the broader consequences of Trump’s actions in Iran.

“The US and global economies are significantly affected by the severely reduced flow of essential commodities, including fertiliser, helium, and oil,” they said.

“The military conflict against Iran has engulfed the Middle East in hostilities. After Trump has humiliated, belittled, coerced, and degraded allies and partners since retaking office, some of our oldest and most loyal partners are now refusing to be forced into supporting his war,” they said.

“This should come as no surprise given how Trump has pursued his war of choice with no strategic advantage achieved or clear plan for how to clean up the mess he created.”

The House Democrats concluded by urging immediate diplomatic engagement: “That is the only plausible way to end his catastrophic war before the costs grow even more cataclysmic and we find ourselves in yet another unwinnable, forever war.”