President Donald Trump pushed back against mounting claims that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu manipulated him into a costly war with Iran. As domestic disapproval climbs and gas prices rise at similar levels, Trump publicly asserted his own agency in the decision-making process.
Donald Trump talks about Israel in new post
Addressing speculation around the origins of the Iran war, Donald Trump stated that his actions were not driven by pressure from Israel or its leadership. “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Critics increasingly argue that the war aligns more with Israeli strategic interests than those of the United States. However, there is no public evidence linking Iran directly to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks as mentioned in the post. Additionally, Trump’s intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, testified before Congress in March that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon.
In the same post, Trump also lashed out at US media coverage of the war, accusing it of spreading misinformation. “I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made-up stories. The polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged,” he wrote.
The president’s comments follow mounting backlash over the economic and geopolitical consequences of the war. After initial US-Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and others on February 28, Iran retaliated by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. This disruption drove global oil prices higher. Plus, it pushed US fuel costs above $4 per gallon, up from under $3 before the war.
Despite the backlash, Trump continues to defend the war’s outcome. He pointed to what he described as future opportunities for Iran under new leadership. With a fragile ceasefire in place and talks expected soon, both sides have warned that hostilities could resume if negotiations fail.
Originally written by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
