Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that Israel "would not exist" today if he had not been president, dramatically stating that the nation "would have been wiped off the face of the Earth."
Trump made the declaration during a lengthy phone interview with Fox & Friends, where he also discussed the conflict with Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. "Frankly, if I weren’t president of the United States, Israel today would not exist," Trump said, responding to a question about Iran potentially possessing nuclear weapons.
The former president's remarks came as the U.S. and Iran have been engaged in daily strikes since February 28, leading to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil shipping route.
Trump also expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, relaying an anecdote about Netanyahu's public announcement of plans to present evidence of Iran's nuclear program. "I don’t need Bibi to tell me that," Trump told Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt. "Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved." He questioned why Netanyahu would announce such intentions publicly rather than communicating them directly to him. "I heard Bibi announce that. I said, ‘Why didn’t you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?"
Trump indicated he was aware of Iran's activities, referencing a tunnel complex known as "Pickaxe Mountain." "I know exactly what’s going on at Pickaxe," he stated. "It’s not a big problem. We took out their nuclear site, and we’ll have to take out Pickaxe if we don’t make a deal." Experts have expressed doubts that even powerful bunker-buster weapons could penetrate the deep tunnel complex, which Iran denies exists.
During the interview, Trump also reiterated his position on controlling the Strait of Hormuz, stating, "Iran doesn't control the strait – we control the strait." He acknowledged Iran's potential to deploy mines but insisted on U.S. dominance over the waterway.
Earlier in the week, Trump had written on Truth Social that any damages to ships or cargo related to the conflict would be paid for by Iranian assets controlled by the United States. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, however, called the proposal "illegal," framing the conflict as an "imposed war" initiated by the U.S.
Trump's comments to Fox News occurred on the same day he attended and spoke at the funeral service for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, where Prime Minister Netanyahu was also present. The two leaders also met at the White House prior to the funeral.