Trump downplays war with Iran, calls it "just a military exercise"

• Trump drew a muted reaction from attendees after making comments about the prevalence of the name Mohammad
  The event was aimed at rallying Republican voters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in Georgia

US President Donald Trump addressed national economic conditions and the war with Iran, pointing to record stock market performance while describing the conflict as "just a military exercise."

Speaking to supporters ahead of the November midterm elections, Trump cited Wall Street gains while characterizing the Iran war as a contained effort.

"So we have the highest stock market in history. And this is with the war," Trump said during his rally in Georgia. "But it’s not, it’s just, it’s a military exercise, OK? It’s a military exercise."

Transitioning to comments regarding Iranian governance, Trump attacked the country's leadership.

The remark came as he discussed Iran and claimed it was “the only country where nobody wants to be president.”

Trump turned to general naming conventions across the Middle East, using the topic to mock Iranian leadership.

He stated that "Mohammad" served as a general assumption for anyone from the region: "You know, if you’re in doubt about somebody’s name from the Middle East, just say ‘Mohammad.’ You have about a 65% chance. ‘Hello, Mohammad.’ I’ve done it for years now. I’ve never been wrong."

He then pretended to ask several people named Mohammad if they wanted the job of Iran’s president.

The audience inside the airport hangar offered a relatively muted response to the remark.

The Dalton rally formed part of a broader campaign swing through Georgia as Trump works to mobilize base voters for Republican candidates, including US Senate hopeful Mike Collins and gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.