Fact Check: Did Netanyahu Address White House Rejection of the Plan to Kill Khamenei?
What We Know
During an interview on Fox News Channel’s "Special Report with Bret Baier," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about a reported plan by Israel to kill Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to a U.S. official, President Donald Trump rejected this plan, expressing concerns that it could escalate conflict in the region (AP News). When pressed on whether the White House had indeed rejected the plan, Netanyahu did not provide a direct answer. Instead, he stated, “But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we’ll do what we need to do,” and added that the United States understands what is good for itself (Reuters).
Analysis
The claim that Netanyahu did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan is substantiated by the content of the interview. While he spoke about Israel's actions and the broader context of the conflict, he avoided confirming or denying the specifics of the U.S. rejection. His comments were more about Israel's autonomy in decision-making rather than a clear response to the question posed by Bret Baier (Washington Post).
The sources reporting on this event, including the Associated Press and Reuters, are reputable news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. They provided consistent accounts of the interview and the context surrounding it, which adds credibility to the assertion that Netanyahu did not directly address the rejection of the plan (AP News, Reuters).
However, it is worth noting that Netanyahu's spokesperson later called reports about the plan "fake," which could suggest a potential attempt to downplay the situation or avoid political fallout (AP News). This adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, but does not change the fact that Netanyahu's response during the interview was evasive regarding the specific question.
Conclusion
The verdict is True. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly address whether the White House rejected the plan to kill Khamenei during his interview on Fox News. His comments were non-specific and did not confirm or deny the reported rejection by President Trump.
Sources
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US ...
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US ...
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, US ...
- Benjamin Netanyahu to sit down with Fox News' Bret Baier ...
- Trump vetoed Israeli plan to kill Iran's supreme leader, U.S. ...
