Just hours after Donald Trump’s defense secretary, generals and other Cabinet members sought to assuage fears of another Middle East quagmire by saying U.S. involvement in Iran would be limited, the president signaled Sunday on his social truth platform that he may have other ambitions.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘regime change,’ but if the current Iranian regime can’t make Iran great again, why wouldn’t there be a regime change??? Miga!!!,” Trump posted Sunday afternoon .
The president’s apparent desire to broaden the scope of the conflict — which his aides said Sunday morning would be limited to his nuclear program — came less than 24 hours after the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, causing “severe damage” in a surprise attack but falling short of “totally obliterating” the sites and enriching the stories Trump touted Saturday night.
Trump said “total surrender” and diplomacy would be the only way forward for Iran, so the statement could be interpreted as a negotiating tactic as Iranian officials have so far refused to enter into talks with the West.
Late Sunday night, Trump warned Iran against retaliation, posting:
“Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with far greater force than was witnessed tonight. Thank you! Donald J. Trump, President of the United States.”
More to come…
