Trump huddles with top officials on Iran options as GOP skepticism mounts

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President Donald Trump spent Saturday consumed with what to do about the war he started with Iran.

He met with top U.S. officials at the White House Saturday and held a call with Gulf leaders about the state of the war, according to a White House official granted anonymity to discuss sensitive details.

Top U.S. officials involved in the talks included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, according to the official.

Specifics of options on the table were unclear. But the high-level discussions came as Trump and his team were reportedly weighing a new offer from Iran for ending hostilities as the president’s popularity and standing with fellow Republicans slipped. The president told Axios that he’s “50-50” on whether to reach a deal with Iran or resume military strikes that were paused on April 8.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a key Trump congressional ally, warned against agreeing to a deal that could wind up giving Iran the appearance of dominance.

“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominate force requiring a diplomatic solution,” Graham said in a social media post Saturday.