- The Washington Times - Monday, July 13, 2026

President Trump will speak directly to the nation on Thursday night, a primetime address that coincides with renewed fighting in Iran.

The address was announced in a short message on Truth Social that referred to the president in the third person.

“President Trump will be making a Speech to the Nation on Thursday evening, at 9 P.M. Eastern. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” it said.



It is unclear what the topic or central point will be, though Mr. Trump’s speech likely pertains to flare-ups in the Middle East.

The U.S. and Iran have exchanged fire in the region in recent days, unraveling the truce that was negotiated in a mid-June memorandum of understanding.

Mr. Trump, who wants to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, said he will reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports and charge a fee on other nations that use the Strait of Hormuz, as reimbursement for American security efforts in the waterway.

U.S. Central Command said the blockade would take effect at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Mr. Trump formally notified Congress on Monday that hostilities with Iran had resumed.

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