Trump to Address the Nation at 9:00 AM: Iran Conflict 'Meets or Exceeds Benchmark', Timeline to be Confirmed in Two to Three Weeks

On April 2, the White House announced that President Trump will deliver a national address at 9 PM Eastern Time on April 1 (9 AM Beijing Time on April 2) to provide ‘important updates’ regarding military actions against Iran (Operation Epic Fury). White House officials indicated that U.S. military operations have ‘met or exceeded benchmarks’ and will reaffirm a timeline for concluding related operations within two to three weeks. In the backdrop of the speech, the market reacted positively: stock indices rebounded, and oil prices fell, with the mainstream narrative viewing this address as a significant signal for risk mitigation. However, the White House also emphasized that allies need to contribute more ‘in terms of effort and funding’, shifting from the stance of ‘the U.S. can handle it’ to urging allies to take responsibility, leading to speculation that this may be a prelude to external negotiations rather than a simple declaration of conclusion. Recently, Trump criticized some NATO allies for not participating in the actions and hinted that the U.S. might reassess its role in NATO. The mainstream view sees the speech as a stabilizing anchor for uncertainty, but what the market truly cares about is a verifiable, actionable, and sustainable exit path. Political narratives can change minute by minute, while real-world security assurances, shipping restoration, supply chain evaluations, and damage assessments need to be verified weekly or even monthly. If the speech continues to emphasize a ‘progress bar’, there may be a short-term revaluation of risk assets due to ‘improved tone’, alongside a coexistence of commodity and inflation pricing due to ‘ongoing supply disruptions’, leading to fluctuating asset correlations in the short term. Investors need to be wary of the chain reactions formed by expectation gaps. The address is expected to focus on strategic goals already achieved by U.S. forces (such as weakening the Iranian navy, containing regional proxy threats, and ensuring Iran cannot acquire nuclear weapons), and may also touch on key issues such as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. All major U.S. television networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, etc.) will broadcast the speech live, and the White House’s official website and YouTube channel will also provide real-time streaming. This will be Trump’s first formal national address regarding the Iran conflict, expected to last 30-60 minutes, and its content will directly impact market judgments on the path to conflict resolution.