Speaking to Fox News following the overnight attack, Trump used unusually blunt language to describe how the United States would respond.
"We're going to beat the f*ing st of them. We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating," he said, according to a Fox News correspondent.
His remarks came after the US military said every incoming Iranian missile was successfully intercepted before reaching its intended target.
Trump calls strike a 'surprise attack'
Trump described the missile barrage as an "attempted surprise attack," saying US troops stationed at a military base in Jordan had only minutes to react before the ballistic missiles arrived.
According to the president, he watched footage of American personnel tracking the incoming missiles in real time and intercepting them before impact.
He said the operation ensured that "none of this incoming Iranian fire got through."
CENTCOM says missiles launched from Iran
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the missiles were fired by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from Iranian territory late Tuesday.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM described the strike as an "attempted surprise attack" against US forces in the Middle East.
At 5:45 p.m. ET today, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces launched multiple ballistic missiles from Iran in an attempted surprise attack on U.S. forces based in the Middle East. All Iranian missiles were successfully intercepted. U.S. forces remain vigilant and at a high…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 28, 2026
While the military did not identify the targeted base, Axios, citing US officials, reported that the missiles were aimed at a US military installation in Jordan.
Trump defends strikes on Iran-backed militias
Trump also defended the recent joint US-Saudi military operations against pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq, saying the strikes were conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government.
Describing the Iran-backed militias as a "cancer on the world," he signaled that Washington would continue targeting Tehran's regional proxies if necessary.
Diplomacy to continue despite escalation
Despite his combative rhetoric, Trump said the United States remains committed to diplomatic engagement with Iran.
He indicated that negotiations with Tehran would continue even as tensions between the two countries intensify, suggesting Washington is pursuing both military deterrence and diplomatic channels simultaneously.