President Donald Trump laid into both Israel and Iran for continued conflict after the president declared a ceasefire late on Monday following Iran's weak strikes on US military bases in the Middle East. As he boarded Marine 1, he was asked about the ceasefire, which he announced last night.
As he was peppered with questions outside the White House on Tuesday morning, the president was visibility frustrated with the two countries. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*ck they’re doing. Do you understand that?" Trump said, walking away from the press.
On Monday night, following the weekend's successful bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, later saying that it was in effect, writing, "THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!" This came after the two nations had continued their strikes.
After the ceasefire was announced, the Israeli military said that the Iranian regime launched rockets into Israel, violating the agreement, leading to Israel to initiate an attack against Iran Tuesday morning, per the New York Times.
After Israel sent fighter jets into Iran, however, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!"
A White House official told the New York Times that in a "firm and direct" call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump conveyed a message about sustaining the ceasefire. “The prime minister understood the severity of the situation and the concerns President Trump expressed,” the official said.
Trump also wrote on Truth Social, "ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
In his comments to reporters on Tuesday morning, Trump also stated that Iran would not be able to rebuild their nuclear facilities after the US offensive to destroy them.