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Donald Trump hailed for 'crushing' Iranian regime as ex-leaders branded 'weak and ineffective'
Mar 4, 2026
The US President has been lauded for "crushing" the Iranian regime while past leaders have been rebuked as "weak and ineffective". Delivering an update on escalating tensions across the globe, Donald Trump's Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt aksi called Tehran the "world's leading state sponsor of terrorism".Calling Mr Trump a "man of action", she said: "Prior leaders have been too weak and ineffective to address this threat. "President Trump is holding these monsters accountable and permanently extinguishing their nuclear ambitions."Future generations of Americans will look to this moment as the moment where the spectre of a nuclear Iran ended."Discussing the 47th President's thought process behind launching strikes on Tehran, she explained the Islamic Republic had "remained fully committed to rebuilding its nuclear programme".She said: "The regime did what they always have done, they lied, they delayed, they tried to string the United States of America along."They wanted to buy themselves time to continue building ballistic missiles and other deadly weaponry that could harm our US personnel and troops in the region."WATCH THE UPDATE ABOVE
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0:00
Back to the White House, Caroline Levitt speaking. Let's just see what she has to say
0:04
Prior leaders have been too weak and ineffective to address this threat
0:08
Some, like Barack Hussein Obama, even sent pallets of cash that ultimately financed this terrorist crusade
0:15
against the United States and our people, while signing stupid and naive deals that put Iran on the path of developing nuclear bombs
0:24
After years of endless appeasement and empty statements from politicians on both sides of the political aisle in this town
0:32
President Trump is finally the man of action. President Trump is holding these monsters accountable and permanently extinguishing their nuclear ambitions
0:43
Future generations of Americans will look to this moment as the moment where the specter of a nuclear armed Iran ended
0:52
At the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, launched last weekend, President Trump laid out clear objectives to the American people
1:00
on what the U.S. military seeks to accomplish through these major combat operations
1:05
Number one, destroy the regime's deadly ballistic missiles and completely raze their missile industry to the ground
1:12
Number two, annihilate the Iranian regime's navy. And so far, we have destroyed more than 20 Iranian ships
1:19
including their top submarine last night, using a torpedo for the first time since World War II
1:26
There is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or the Gulf of Oman
1:33
Number three, Operation Epic Fury will ensure the regime's terrorist proxies in the region can no longer destabilize the region
1:40
or the free world and attack our armed forces. And thus far, Iran's proxies are hardly putting up a fight
1:48
Number four, this mission will guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon
1:55
It safe to say that thus far Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success American forces have struck more than 2 targets destroying hundreds and hundreds of ballistic missiles launchers and drones
2:08
As the Department of War said this morning, we expect to have complete and total dominance over Iranian airspace in the coming hours
2:16
clearing the skies for our brave warriors to continue achieving these noble and long-sought-after objectives
2:23
There's been a lot of misreporting and intellectual dishonesty from the American media on why President Trump decided to launch this operation
2:31
So let me remind you, Operation Midnight Hammer, which took place last June, obliterated Iran's three major nuclear sites
2:40
Yet the terrorist Iranian regime has remained fully committed to rebuilding its nuclear program
2:46
How do we know this? because Iran has pursued this path of war and violence despite President Trump dispatching two
2:52
of his top and most trusted negotiators to engage in exhaustive and good faith negotiations to try
2:59
and reach a deal. And the world knows this president's preference is always peace and
3:04
diplomacy first. Look no further than the eight additional global conflicts he has ended in the
3:11
past year as proof. Unfortunately, the terrorist Iranian regime refused to negotiate in good faith
3:18
They chose this path of violence and destruction, and they are reaping the consequences of their
3:23
horrible decision. The regime did what they always have done. They lied. They delayed. They tried to
3:29
string the United States of America along. They wanted to buy themselves time to continue building
3:35
ballistic missiles and other deadly weaponry that could harm our U.S. personnel and troops in the
3:40
region and to continue aggressively pursuing their unacceptable nuclear ambitions. U.S. negotiators offered to lift crippling sanctions on Iran and even provide nuclear
3:51
fuel to Iran at no cost to support a civil nuclear power program
3:57
They additionally had the opportunity to accept U support as an investor in potential projects to develop peaceful nuclear energy together under a mutually agreed upon framework Yet in response
4:09
Iran would have to forfeit their enrichment capacity once and for all. But Iran rejected
4:15
They accepted none of these generous and unprecedented offers by the United States
4:20
Simply put, they refused to say yes to peace. And their refusal made clear that their number
4:26
one priority was building a nuclear weapon with which to threaten the United States of America
4:33
Again, the country they have been chanting death to for nearly five decades. Let me state this again
4:39
clearly. Iran rejected the path of peace because the terrorists in charge of this regime wanted to
4:44
build nuclear weapons to use against Americans and our allies. President Trump made the determination
4:51
a courageous determination and decision that the path the United States was on with Iran had only
4:57
one outcome, massive death and destruction at the hands of a nuclear-armed terroristic regime
5:04
That path of death and destruction and threats against the American people
5:08
have ended with Operation Epic Fury. Operation Epic Fury has forged a new path that will better
5:15
ensure the security of the United States and our people. The terrorists made a bet that President
5:21
Trump would be like many of his predecessors, that he would just talk and he would refuse to enforce
5:26
his clear red lines. But that has proven to be a catastrophic error in judgment. When President
5:33
Trump makes a threat, and I have reiterated that threat many times from this podium to all of you
5:38
over the past year, President Trump does not bluff. The President's words are backed up by the
5:44
mightiest warriors in the world who possess the most sophisticated capabilities this world has
5:49
ever known. 49 and counting of the most senior Iranian regime leaders
5:54
including the Supreme Leader, have already been wiped off the face of the earth
5:59
Make no mistake killing these brutal terrorists is good for America and makes the world a much safer place I want to also extend our prayers and condolences to the families of the six U military service members who have been lost in Operation Epic Fury
6:16
These heroes represent the very best among us. They laid down their lives in defense of our country, and we will never forget their legacy or their sacrifice
6:26
As the president said, we grieve for these American patriots and their families as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives
6:35
President Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer of these American heroes to stand in grief alongside their families
6:42
I understand the Department of War is working on scheduling this transfer and we will provide updates at the appropriate time
6:49
Finally, the Trump administration is also doing everything within our power to protect Americans in harm's way
6:55
Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, more than 17,500 Americans have safely returned home from the Middle East
7:04
with over 8,500 American citizens returning home to the United States just yesterday alone
7:10
If you are a U.S. citizen in the Middle East looking to return to the United States
7:15
the Secretary of State asks that you please register with the State Department at step.state.gov
7:21
The State Department will identify where you are and provide travel options directly to you
7:27
The administration is already rapidly chartering flights free of charge and booking commercial options
7:33
which we expect to become increasingly available as time goes on and the success of this mission further comes to fruition
7:40
I know the President and Secretary of State Rubio have been in touch as well with our allies in the region directly about this problem
7:46
making it clear that it is a priority of the United States of America to bring every American home
7:53
The Trump administration will not rest until every American is home safely
7:56
and until the terrorist threat from Iran has been completely destroyed. With that, I'll take your questions
8:03
Eric, why don't you kick us off today? Thank you for being here
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