Donald Trump slammed the idea that Israel forced America into conflict with Iran. In his first public remarks since the weekend’s Operation Epic Fury, Trump flipped the script, suggesting he might have pushed Israel’s hand instead.
Trump: “I Might Have Forced Their Hand”
When asked if Israel pulled the US into war, Trump shot back: “No, I might have forced their hand.” He claimed negotiations with Iran convinced him Tehran was preparing to strike first. “We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion they were going to attack first. So if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” he insisted.
This blasts apart the official line from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told Congress:
“We knew there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that would trigger an attack against American forces. If we didn’t strike first, we’d suffer higher casualties.”
Internal Fallout as MAGA Base Turns on Trump
The conflicting versions sparked backlash from Trump’s own camp. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh ripped the former president: “So flat out telling us we’re in a war with Iran because Israel forced our hand. This is basically the worst possible thing he could have said.”
Region on Edge as Bombing Ramps Up
The war didn’t cool down on Tuesday. The US and Israel hit Tehran with fresh airstrikes. Israel warned civilians in Persian to evacuate key areas ahead of strikes on military targets, claiming overnight raids destroyed vital government and security compounds.
Across the Middle East, US embassies went on high alert after consulates in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait faced attacks. The State Department ordered the evacuation of non-essential staff and families from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, and UAE. Yet, with much airspace shut, many Americans—estimated to number over one million—are stuck in the region.
Confusion Over War Goals and Timeline
Top officials gave mixed messages on the war aims. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the goal is to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Yet a White House source told the Daily Mail the objectives are to destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles, missile production, and navy—ignoring nuclear and regime change entirely.
Trump also changed his tune on the war’s length. Once saying it’d last four to five weeks, he now claims the US can fight “far longer” if needed. “The big wave hasn’t even happened,” he warned and dismissed Iranian peace offers on Truth Social with “Too late.”
