President Donald Trump rejected claims that Israel pressured the United States into initiating Operation Epic Fury, a joint operation that launched the Iran war in late February.
“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 on Monday morning. “I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories.”
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Trump’s comments come as the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran ends Tuesday evening. (Trump has claimed the ceasefire ends on Wednesday.)
Ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, which briefly opened and then closed over the weekend, have complicated a second round of negotiations.
It is unclear whether Iranian leaders will meet this week with a U.S. delegation, which would include Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Iran war has remained largely unpopular with the American public, according to most polls. The war has also caused a split among MAGA diehards, as some conservatives, such as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, have accused Israel of manipulating the U.S. into the war. Other conservative personalities, such as Candace Owens and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have also alleged that Israel pressured the U.S. into war.
TRUMP SAYS ISRAEL IS ‘PROHIBITED FROM’ BOMBING LEBANON
A new Pew Research Center survey showed that Americans overall have a negative view of Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the April poll, 60% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, an increase from 53% last year. And 59% have little or no confidence in Netanyahu to do the right thing in world affairs, up from 52% last year.
