President Donald Trump spoke about the Israeli attack on Iran in a late night phone conversation with Fox News host Bret Baier. Earlier, the White House announced Trump would be holding a meeting of the National Security Council in the Situation Room Friday at 11 a.m. EDT. (UPDATE at end of article: Early Friday morning Truth Social post by President Trump)
Citing an existential threat to it by Iran’s nuclear program, Israel conducted widespread attacks on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile facilities, senior military leaders and top nuclear scientists. Trump observed to Baier that while he was hopeful Iran would return to the negotiating table with the U.S. on its nuclear program, “There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back.”
Images from the first Israeli strikes on Tehran early Friday:
Footage coming in from #Israel‘s strikes against #Iran‘s regime, including in Tehran. pic.twitter.com/Jlq5CLScUl
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) June 13, 2025
Video of an Israeli strike on the Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz:
The moment a missile hit Natanz. pic.twitter.com/iK2RcedO9P
— Mike (@Doranimated) June 13, 2025
Attack on the Kermanshah Underground Facility:
This is the Kermanshah Underground Facility (UGF) at 34.368586, 47.236778
POV starts around 34.35011, 47.22774 https://t.co/8aLGc9qhBc pic.twitter.com/erm8v6LKM5
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 13, 2025
Video of Bret Baier’s report posted by Benny Johnson, “BRET BAIER: “I just spoke to President Trump. One thing the president was aware of Israel’s action before it happened.” “He gave me a quote. He said: ‘Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We’re hoping to get back to the negotiating table.’” “The President is looking to see if there is retaliation… the US will defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.”
BREAKING: President Trump told Fox News he knew about Israel’s strikes ahead of time and still wants negotiation talks with Iran:
BRET BAIER: “I just spoke to President Trump. One thing the president was aware of Israel’s action before it happened.”
“He gave me a quote. He… pic.twitter.com/0UtYfMjVAg
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 13, 2025
Trump’s comments to Baier were summarized by Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin on X:
President Trump was aware of the strikes beforehand. There were no surprises, but the US was NOT involved militarily and hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table.
President Trump:
“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see. There are several people in leadership that will not be coming back.” (A reference to some of the Iranian leaders who were killed tonight by Israel.)Pres Trump has spoken to PM Netanyahu several times in recent days. The Trump Administration reached out to at least one key Middle Eastern ally to acknowledge that the strike was going to happen but that the US was not involved in the strikes and the goal is still to get Iran back to the negotiating table.
The President is looking to see if there is retaliation, CENTCOM is on high alert, The US will defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates.
He said I hope they get back to the negotiating table.The US has replenished Iron Dome missiles in recent weeks, according to administration officials. US officials confirm a number of top Iranian leaders are dead after the strikes. Again, the US military was not involved in any way in these strikes, but clearly the administration knew about the Israeli plans in advance and was not surprised.
Thursday evening, the White House issued a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2025
The President’s schedule for Friday released by the White House press office:
President Trump is meeting with the national security council tomorrow in the Situation Room. Previously, a cabinet meeting was on the schedule: pic.twitter.com/gZoBNyly0A
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) June 13, 2025
In an address Thursday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks on Iran would last several days to end the existential threat of Iran’s nuclear program:
Prime Minister Netanyahu:
“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” pic.twitter.com/3c8oF1GCYa
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 13, 2025
The IDF released a statement overnight explaining the rationale for the timing of the attack on Iran, posted by the Daily Wire’s Kassy Aviva:
New IDF statement on Iranian nuclear capabilities:
” In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return. The convergence of the Iranian regime’s efforts to produce thousands of kilograms of…
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025
New IDF statement on Iranian nuclear capabilities:
“In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return. The convergence of the Iranian regime’s efforts to produce thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium, alongside decentralized and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time. Additionally, in recent years, and more so since the beginning of the war, concrete progress has been identified in the Iranian regime’s efforts to produce weapons components adapted for a nuclear bomb.
The Iranian regime has been working for decades to obtain a nuclear weapon. The world has attempted every possible diplomatic path to stop it, but the regime has refused to stop.
The IDF is revealing for the first time that the Iranian regime is advancing a secret plan for the technological advancement of all parts of the development of a nuclear weapon. In the framework of this plan, senior nuclear scientists in Iran have been working to secretly develop all components needed for developing a nuclear weapon.
In recent months, this program has accelerated significantly, bringing the regime significantly closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is clear evidence that the Iranian regime is operating to obtain a nuclear weapon.The State of Israel has been left with no choice. The IDF has the obligation to act in defense of the civilians of Israel and will continue to do so.”
UPDATE:
“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done. I told them it would be much worse than anything they know, anticipated, or were told, that the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it. Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse! There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!”
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