Fact Check: "Trump said he and his team had known about Israel's plans to attack Iran."
What We Know
In recent statements, former President Donald Trump confirmed that he and his administration were aware of Israel's plans to conduct military strikes against Iran. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Trump explicitly stated, "We know what's going on," indicating that the U.S. had prior knowledge of Israel's military intentions. This claim aligns with various reports suggesting that the U.S. had been informed about the impending attacks, although officials maintained that the U.S. was not involved in the planning or logistics of the strikes (BBC).
In a series of interviews following the attacks, Trump expressed his support for Israel's actions, describing them as "excellent" and asserting that Iran had missed its opportunity for a diplomatic resolution (Washington Post). He emphasized that the strikes were a response to Iran's failure to negotiate and that the situation could escalate further (Politico).
Analysis
The evidence supporting Trump's claim comes from multiple reputable sources, including major news outlets like Reuters and the Washington Post. These reports consistently indicate that Trump was informed about Israel's military plans and did not attempt to dissuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from proceeding with the strikes (Reuters, Washington Post).
However, the reliability of these sources is generally high, as they are established news organizations with a history of fact-checking and journalistic integrity. The reports are corroborated by multiple accounts from officials within the Trump administration, suggesting a consensus on the matter.
Critically, while Trump's statements reflect a level of awareness about Israel's military strategies, the context of his comments—made in the wake of significant military action—may also serve his political narrative. His framing of the situation as a validation of his foreign policy approach could be seen as an attempt to consolidate support among his base, particularly those who favor strong U.S.-Israel relations.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump said he and his team had known about Israel's plans to attack Iran is True. The evidence from credible news sources confirms that Trump was aware of the plans and publicly supported Israel's military actions. His statements align with the broader context of U.S.-Israel relations and the ongoing tensions with Iran.
Sources
- 'We knew everything,' Trump tells Reuters about Israel's plans to attack Iran
- Trump struggles with Iran message as Republicans diverge over attack
- Trump pledged peace but is now embroiled in new Israel conflict
- Trump said US was aware of Israel's plans to attack Iran, WSJ reports
- Trump scrambles to claim credit for Israel's Iran attack he knew about
- Trump embraces Israel after 'successful' Iran attack