Trump has faced some condemnation online after giving an update about the military and the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Donald Trump has rarely been far from controversy, but his comments are drawing heightened attention amid the escalating war with Iran, which intensified after US and Israeli strikes.
The US’ Operation Epic Fury was able to successfully kill the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his residence in Tehran.
On Monday (March 9), Trump addressed supporters during the annual Republican Members’ Issues Conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
During his remarks, he offered a wartime update and sparked criticism online after appearing to joke that sinking Iranian ships was more enjoyable than capturing them.
Trump said he had spoken with a member of the US military about developments in the conflict, and claimed their conversation turned to Iran’s naval fleet, which he said had been sent to the bottom of the ocean.
He said: “In fact, I got a little upset with our people.
“I said, ‘What quality of ship? [he replied] ‘excellent sir, top of the line’.
“I said ‘Why don’t we just capture the ship? We could have used it’ Why did we sink them?’ he said, ‘it’s more fun to sink them.’
“They say they like sinking them better, they say its safer to sink them, I guess it is probably true.”
The remarks prompted some viewers to accuse the president of not treating the situation with enough seriousness. Several people said they were unsettled by the tone used when discussing military action and loss of life.
One X user wrote: “The President of the United States just explained that the U.S. Navy sinks Iranian ships because it’s more fun.
At some point we have to reckon with the fact that this is not a foreign policy. This is a man describing a video game he’s enjoying.”
Trump: "I said, 'Why don't we just capture the ship? We could use it. Why did we sink them?' He said, 'It's more fun to sink them.' They like sinking them better." pic.twitter.com/nR6KOxFCTY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2026
Another wrote: “We sank the ship, then left the survivors to die. I guess Donald Trump thinks killing people is a funny game?
A third added: “Treating national security like a game of Battleship is terrifying. Sinking ships isn’t about fun it’s about global stability.”
With another writing: “We need a Commander-in-Chief who understands the weight of military force, not someone looking for a playground thrill.”
While another simply commented: “The fact that people laughed at this man’s joke says a lot about this country and I guess what we deserve.”