President Donald Trump said Iran had “gotten it all out of their ‘system’” after the country launched a retaliatory missile barrage at a U.S. military base in Qatar.
“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday afternoon. He wrote that 14 missiles were fired, 13 of which were “knocked down” and one that was “‘set free’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction.”
“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” Trump continued. “I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The post came after Qatar intercepted missiles Iran shot toward the country, in apparent retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities this past weekend. The New York Times reported Iran “coordinated the attacks on the American air base in Qatar with Qatari officials and gave advanced notice that attacks were coming to minimize casualties,” citing Iranian officials.
Another post on Truth Social from the president came shortly after the first, this time focused on Qatar.
“I’d like to thank the Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region,” Trump wrote. “Regarding the attack today at the American Base in Qatar, I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The attempted Iranian strike on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base came after Trump announced the U.S. struck three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the strikes caused damage and were able to “destroy or severely degrade” the country’s capabilities. This is disputed by Iran, which has said all three facilities were evacuated and the damage was minimal.
Critics decried the strikes over fears of escalation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement, “The risk of war has now dramatically increased,” and Trump “misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”
Despite the risk of escalation, Vice President JD Vance said during an interview Sunday morning: “We’re not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio similarly said on Fox News that “this is not a war against Iran.”
Both of Trump’s top officials said that regime change was not the goal of Saturday’s strikes — statements that the president contradicted just hours later in a Truth Social post calling to “Make Iran Great Again.”
By Monday afternoon, Trump had switched tacks again, seemingly trying to de-escalate the situation.
In a third post, he kept it short: “CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!”
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Nuha Dolby is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.