US4 min(s) read
Published 16:14 08 Apr 2026 GMT
Donald Trump tweet from 2011 resurfaces after president threatened to 'wipe out' Iran
A post Donald Trump made in 2011 has resurfaced after the president threatened to "wipe out" Iran.
A few years before becoming president, the 79-year-old was strongly against going to war with Tehran.
He often claimed that then-President Barack Obama would start a conflict with Iran to help win re-election and distract from criticism. However, the 64-year-old never launched such an attack.
Trump, on the other hand, has since carried out strikes on Iran during his time in office, bringing renewed attention to his past comments.
Donald Trump's Previous Posts About Iran
On January 17, 2012, the 79-year-old wrote on X: "In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran."
He doubled down on that claim in August the same year, insisting Obama would "in some form" attack Iran before the election.
By October 9, 2012, he posted: "Now that Obama's poll numbers are in tailspin - watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate."
And, later that same month, he warned the GOP not to "let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in oder too get elected--be careful Republicans!"
Following the resurfacing of these posts, social media users were quick to react. One user quipped that the post "Aged like wine," while another said: "Trump doing exactly what he predicted Obama will do."
A third added: "I can see how Trump got elected twice. He told people what they wanted to hear. It's that simple. Now he's showing you what you really elected."
Trump Threatened To 'Wipe Out' Iran
On February 28, 2026, Trump joined Israel in joint military strikes on Tehran, which led to the death of many people, including Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, his daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law.
Iran responded with retaliatory attacks across the Middle East and closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which around 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
This move left Trump so outraged that he wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday (April 7): "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will."
"However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?
"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!" he added.
Ceasefire With Iran
Despite the escalating rhetoric, a ceasefire was announced just 90 minutes before a self-imposed deadline on Tuesday.
"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said. "I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."
"We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran,” he continued, adding that he received a 10-point proposal from Tehran.
The president said the decision followed an appeal from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief Gen. Asim Munir, who have been acting as mediators.
"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement are progressing steadily," Sharif said. "I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks."
In a follow-up statement, Sharif said both US and Iranian delegations had been invited to Islamabad to continue negotiations, with hopes of reaching a final agreement to resolve the conflict.