Donald Trump has made a shocking claim about Iranians and the reason they continue to live as the POTUS prepares to negotiate terms of his ceasefire with the nation.
Trump launched his presidential run with promises to ‘stop wars’ and avoid starting them, but he has faced intense criticism over how he has handled the conflict involving Iran.
After an initial wave of strikes by the US and Israel on February 28, the situation escalated into weeks of missile attacks, casualties, and widespread damage, ultimately leading to the Strait of Hormuz being shut down.
In the aftermath, several prominent MAGA voices who previously defended Trump’s approach turned on him publicly—drawing sharp responses from the president in return.
Now, with attention shifting back to Iran, Trump has issued a disturbing assertion about why he believes the country’s population is still alive.
The comments come only hours before planned US-Iran discussions, with officials expected to meet in Pakistan to try to finalize a peace agreement.
On Tuesday April 7, Trump accepted a two-week ceasefire shortly after making threats about wiping the country out.
But only a few days into that pause in hostilities, he posted online to explain what he described as his reason for allowing Iran to continue existing.
He suggested it was solely to bring Iran to the table and conclude negotiations.
He wrote on Truth Social: “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to represent the US at the talks, while Iran’s delegation reportedly arrived on Thursday.
Vice President JD Vance also issued a warning to Iran as he departed for Islamabad, saying that ‘if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand’.
He added, per the Express: “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
Trump’s approach to the Iran conflict has also angered several media figures who once backed him strongly.
On April 9, Trump criticized a group of well-known MAGA commentators—Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones—accusing them of having ‘low IQs’.
He said of Carlson, Kelly, Owens, and Jones: “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did!”