In a characteristically combative post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump has pushed back against media narratives surrounding the conflict with Iran, while doubling down on his conviction that Tehran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and openly calling for regime change.
Trump was unequivocal on the core issue driving US policy: "Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of October 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, did." The statement is a direct rebuttal to suggestions that Washington was drawn into the conflict under Israeli pressure, framing the decision instead as a deeply personal and long-held conviction.
A Broadside Against the Media
True to form, Trump used the post to savage what he calls the "Fake News" media, accusing pundits and pollsters of fabricating "90% of what they say" and rigging polls, drawing a direct parallel with his long-standing claims about the 2020 US presidential election and the disputed results in Venezuela.
Most strikingly, Trump explicitly raised the prospect of regime change in Iran, suggesting that new Iranian leadership could unlock a prosperous future for the country: "If Iran's new leaders are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!"
The message is clear: for Trump, this conflict is not merely about nuclear weapons or regional security, it is about fundamentally transforming Iran's political order.