'90% of what they say are lies': Trump slams 'fake news' over claims of Israeli influence in Iran war
President Donald Trump on Monday called out critics who have been questioning Israel's alleged influence over U.S. policy and action. In a statement on Truth Social on Monday, President Trump asserted that claims of Israeli influence in the Iran war came from "Fake News" media, and that the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel affirmed his resolve to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Trump also reiterated his claim that the elections were "rigged" as his party tries to push forward with the SAVE America Act.
"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. I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief," Trump wrote in his post, claiming "90% of what they say are lies and made up stories." Trump followed up the statement by claiming that the polls are rigged, before claiming that the "results in Iran will be amazing."
Since launching Operation Epic Fury on February 28, President Trump has been facing increasing criticism from a section of lawmakers, primarily Democrats, and his followers who believe that the U.S. attacked Iran at the behest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The criticism amplified after President Trump heaped praise on Israel in a Truth Social post on Sunday, calling the nation a "great ally." "They are Courageous, Bold, Loyal, and Smart, and, unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress, Israel fights hard, and knows how to WIN!" he said.
An earlier report by the New York Times had claimed that President Trump had decided to launch an attack on Iran based on a meeting with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, despite some of his military advisers advising against it. As per the report, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told President Trump that Israel was "hard-selling" about Iran's defensive capability and the possibility of regime change. "Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed," Gen. Caine was quoted as saying.
Many critics believe that the Iran war has lasted much longer than President Trump expected. As global oil prices and markets face volatility due to the ongoing conflict, President Trump's approval has reportedly taken a heavy dip. With the midterms approaching, the war is expected to act in favor of Democrats, who have labelled it a "war of choice" rather than one that was launched to defend national security. In light of the situation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called Trump "a feeble-minded, trigger-happy president who plunged us into a war where no threat was present, with no clear objectives and no exit plan."
The President's statement, asserting the U.S. is free from Israeli influence, comes at a time when negotiations with Tehran have reached a critical point. According to an Al Jazeera report, negotiators from both sides, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are set to arrive in Pakistan for a second round of negotiations after failing to reach an agreement in an earlier meeting.
