President Trump is confronting a question that has historically challenged U.S. presidents: how to manage a war that lasts longer than anticipated and the ways it can reshape a presidency. This issue has resurfaced amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, which continues to extend beyond initial predictions. The situation places Trump in a position where he must seek an endgame to the conflict while navigating its political and strategic consequences.

This development was reported by Franco Ordoñez for NPR News on August 9, 2026.

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