President Donald Trump lit into a reporter aboard Air Force One after being pressed to reveal whether the U.S. was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
“You don’t seriously think I’m going to answer that question, do you?” Trump shot back, visibly irritated. Then, turning sarcastic: “What time exactly do you want us to strike so you can let Iran know?”
The exchange drew laughter from the press corps but underscored Trump’s point—he has no intention of telegraphing military decisions to the media, let alone to Tehran.
“I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump added. “But I can tell you this—Iran had 60 days to come to the table. They didn’t. And now they’re getting the hell beaten out of them.”
The president’s refusal to answer wasn’t a dodge—it was deliberate strategy. Trump has long made unpredictability a key element of his foreign policy doctrine. By keeping enemies guessing, he believes the U.S. holds the advantage, especially as Israeli forces continue to dismantle key components of Iran’s military infrastructure.
As tensions with Tehran escalate, Trump is making one thing clear: he’s calling the shots, and no one—not the media, not the mullahs—will get advance notice.
Q: Is the US moving closer to striking Iranian nuclear facilities?
TRUMP: I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do. Iran’s got a lot of trouble. pic.twitter.com/33jiLd3eSf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 18, 2025