U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran have led to past statements from the president and those closest to him to resurface, displaying how campaign promises may be at odds with current foreign policy.
Some of the first strikes as part of “Operation Epic Fury” appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the Associated Press, though Iranian media reported strikes across a nation that has been under Islamic leadership since 1979. Also on Saturday, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed in attacks, ending his 36-year rule.
On Sunday, U.S. Central Command confirmed that three U.S. service members were killed and five others were seriously wounded as part of the ongoing U.S. military campaign in the region. Their names were being withheld for 24 hours until after next of kin first received notification, in accordance with Defense Department policy.
Other personnel sustained minor injuries, including concussions and shrapnel wounds. They are being evaluated or have already returned to duty.
Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the initial strikes, with the former imploring Iranians to “seize control” of their government and their destiny.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said in a video following the initial attacks. “For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.”
Netanyahu referred to the “joint” U.S.-Israel operation that he said “will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands.”
Trump's Foreign Policy
The Middle East’s latest deadly conflict has caused both defenders and adversaries of Trump and his administration to revisit statements made in past years and along the 2024 campaign trail that seem antithetical to current events.
President Trump ran against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as a peace candidate who would not start any new wars and finish the ones already in place.
Old social media posts from the Republican Party itself, showing Trump and Vice President JD Vance, were accompanied with the slogan, “The Pro-Peace Ticket.”
The Russia-Ukraine war just surpassed the four-year mark with no end in sight, however, while Israel and Palestine remain at odds in Gaza as the Trump-helmed Gaza Board of Peace recently promised tens of billions of dollars for reconstruction efforts in the region—including at least $10 billion alone from the U.S.
Trump’s past remarks regarding Iran have reentered the spotlight, dating back to when President Barack Obama was in office.
A Sept. 25, 2013, post on Twitter (now X) written by Trump stated the following:
Remember what I previously said—Obama will someday attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.
A Nov. 10, 2013, post reads: “Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly—not skilled!”
Trump’s remarks last June, in which he said that Iranian nuclear facilities were “completely and totally obliterated,” also have come back to light and have been argued to be at odds with the current mission abroad and explanation being brought forward to the American people.
The White House at the time even put out a memo saying that any claims that the Iranian facilities were obliterated were “fake news.”
A Wall Street Journal opinion column written by now-Vice President Vance on Jan. 31, 2023, is centered on the former Ohio senator’s support for Trump for one major reason: not starting new wars.
“He has my support because I know he won’t recklessly send Americans to fight wars overseas,” Vance said.
Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, has arguably the statements most antithetical to the current situation in Iran.
The former U.S. representative from Hawaii who served as a Democrat and then ran for a president as a Democrat in 2020 did a 180 and shocked many when she not only supported Trump in 2024 but was chosen to serve a high-ranking position.
Gabbard, whose national stature and presidential platform garnered plenty of attention due to anti-war hawk ideology, has made numerous statements in the past about unjust wars and questionable foreign policy decisions.
On May 22, 2019, Gabbard said the following on X:
War with Iran would make the Iraq War look like a cakewalk.
On June 13, 2019, she wrote: “Trump's shortsighted foreign policy is bringing us to the brink of war with Iran and allowing Iran to accelerate nuclear program—just to please Saudis and Netanyahu. This is not America first.”
A Gabbard 2020 campaign video reiterated her former concerns towards a Trump presidency. The fundraising video, released in 2019 and titled "Trump's Path To War With Iran,” included the message: "We've got to stop Donald Trump from starting a war with Iran."
In January of 2020, as President Joe Biden was close to assuming office, Gabbard was still speaking out and peddling merchandise on her presidential website—including a $24.99 T-shirt with the words, “No War With Iran.”
Also in 2020, Gabbard made the following remarks to Martha MacCallum during a Fox News appearance: "An all-out war with Iran would make the wars that we've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer dollars—and all towards accomplishing what goal? What objective?"
Eventually, without any real public explanation, her position changed. On Oct. 28, 2024, Gabbard told a raucous crowd that she supported Trump over Harris because she said he was the pro-peace president.
“A vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for Dick Cheney and a vote for war, war and more war,” Gabbard said on X. “A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to end wars, not start them. We are at a historic crossroads. Our God-given rights are under attack.
“Now is the time for us to stand together, for love of country, and for Donald Trump to get us back on the path to peace, freedom, and prosperity.”
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller has one of the closest ears to the president. The White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor since 2025 has been a big piece of the administrative puzzle, namely on issues pertaining to immigration.
On Nov 1. 2024, days before the last presidential election, Miller wrote the following on X which echoed Gabbard’s sentiments: “To anyone still gullible enough to fall for scummy media hoaxes: Trump said warmongering neocons love sending your kids to die for wars they would never fight themselves. Liz Cheney is Kamala’s top advisor. Liz wants to invade the whole Middle East. Kamala = WWIII. Trump = Peace.”
Liz Cheney never served as Harris’ top advisor.
Republicans, Democrats Dig Heels
Reactions across Capitol Hill drastically varied, from support among Trump’s staunchest conservative allies including Sen. Lindsey Graham of Georgia and those highest up within his administration like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Not all Republicans commended the decision, including Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Thomas Massie, the latter of whom said he would introduce legislation with Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna to force a war powers resolution to pass Congress.
“I am opposed to this War. This is not ‘America First,’” Massie wrote on X on Saturday. “When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran."
The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war.
Sen. Paul quoted former Presidents John Quincy Adams and James Madison in recent remarks on X, saying in part: “As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success in their mission. But my oath of office is to the Constitution, so with studied care, I must oppose another Presidential war.”
That proverbial ship may have sailed, however, as the conflict has continued and the Republican majorities in both the House and Senate have previously failed to adopt similar war powers resolutions surrounding U.S. interventions in Venezuela, for example.
Even Democratic House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries failed to previously push such a vote prior to U.S. military actions early on Saturday.
“As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare. Well done, Mr. President,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of Georgia wrote on X.
The outspoken Democrat who has been in favor of the Iranian attacks has been Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
“Operation Epic Fury. President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel,” Fetterman wrote on X.
