President Donald Trump didn’t hold back Sunday when a reporter asked whether Iran takes his warnings about possible military action seriously, dismissing the question as “stupid” while pointing to America’s recent decisive operations abroad — including the capture of Venezuelan leader .
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as protests continued to roil Iran, Trump was asked if Tehran views his threats to respond “very hard where it hurts” as credible. The president responded sharply, making clear that Iran should indeed take U.S. warnings seriously given recent history.
“I think so,” Trump said, directing a jab at a reporter from CNN and calling out what he views as media bias. He then laid out a list of actions taken under his leadership, saying that Iran has “been hit” hard before — citing the elimination of key terrorist leaders like Qasem Soleimani and Abu Bakr al‑Baghdadi — and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear threat. Trump also pointed to the recent U.S. operation in Venezuela, where Maduro was captured and brought to the United States to face justice.
“Wouldn’t you say that they probably do at this point?” Trump asked the press, stressing that the Iranian leadership has “been through it for years with me.” He then punctuated his message: “What a stupid question.”
Trump’s pointed language came amid a dramatic escalation of tensions between the United States and the Iranian regime, as protests over economic hardship and political repression have swept across cities in Iran. Rights groups and human rights activists have reported hundreds of protesters have been killed and thousands detained as demonstrations intensify against the ruling regime’s crackdown.
Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States is closely watching events in Iran, and he has made clear that violent suppression of peaceful demonstrators by Iranian authorities would trigger a strong U.S. response. He told reporters earlier in the week that if Iranians “kill peaceful protesters, which is their custom,” the United States “will come to their rescue” and suggested that American military action remains on the table if Tehran crosses certain red lines.
While Trump left room for diplomacy by noting that Iranian leaders have sought negotiations, he made clear that military options are being seriously considered. He told the press the United States is evaluating “very strong options” in response to the surge of violence.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has fired back at Trump’s statements on social media, warning that the U.S. president will be “overthrown” and likening him to historical tyrants who were brought down. Khamenei’s rhetoric reflects the regime’s attempt to portray Trump as an arrogant foreign meddler even as Iranians themselves take to the streets.
The president’s firm stance on Iran follows his recent bold actions in Venezuela, where U.S. forces carried out strikes and captured Maduro, a dramatic demonstration of American reach and resolve. Trump has used that success to reinforce his credibility on international threats, making the case that adversaries should not underestimate U.S. resolve on global security.
As unrest continues in Iran and the Trump administration weighs possible responses, the president’s comments Sunday underscored his belief that strength and decisive action are the best tools to deter rogue regimes. Trump’s dismissal of the reporter’s question reflected his broader message: that America’s adversaries have seen firsthand what happens when the United States follows through, and they should take U.S. warnings seriously.
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