It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that Trump often says untrue things, wildly exaggerated versions of the truth, or statements that omit crucial context.
The war in Iran has proved no different. In fact, it seems like the president is more jacked up than ever - posting his many outbursts on Truth Social throughout the night and early hours of the morning.
His - often contradictory - claims are so unpredictable, they’re completely rattling the global market.
Welcome to Trump vs Reality…
April 17
Trump
In a barrage of posts, Trump claimed that Iran had agreed never to close the Strait of Hormuz again, hailing “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!”
Reality
Iran shut the Strait the following evening, and said it will remain closed until the U.S. lifts its blockade on Iranian ports.
Awkward.
April 18
Trump
Trump told Reuters that the U.S. will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the U.S. (Uranium is a critical element in building nuclear weapons)
"We're going to get it together. We're going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery... We'll bring it back to the United States," Trump said.
Reality
Iran has denied these claims, saying the uranium “is not going to be transferred anywhere” and has never “been an option”.
April 19
Trump
After Iran announced it was closing the Strait again, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing.”
Reality
Iran has indeed experienced huge economic losses because of the closure of the passage. But it’s incorrect to suggest that the U.S. is also not suffering from the impact of the war.
U.S. gas price averages were more than $4 a gallon in April (over a dollar more than before the war), and the conflict has led to higher costs of other goods and services.
Not forgetting a global oil and food crisis.
April 19
Trump
“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” Trump wrote.
The post appeared to be an effort to bring the regime back to the negotiating table before the U.S.-Iran ceasefire expires next week.
Reality
It’s difficult to say if Trump means what he said, but history tells us the president is partial to an empty threat or two. On April 7, Trump warned that Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran did not comply with his demands.
Thankfully, he did not follow through with his threat.