Trump Says He’s ‘Not Putting Troops Anywhere’ Amid Iran War

The president made the comments during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the White House for discussions regarding the war in Iran.

Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi meets with President Donald Trump as Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, look on during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on March 19, 2026. Alex Wong/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the White House on Thursday for bilateral discussions regarding the war in Iran, and signaled that he is not inclined to send ground troops into the Middle East.

“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump told reporters during the meeting. “If I were, I would not tell you, but I’m not putting troops.”