Former US presidents dismiss Trump’s Iran war claim after Oval Office rant

WorldPolitics
17 Mar 2026 • 9:13 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • President Donald Trump claimed Monday that a former president secretly approved of his actions regarding Iran.
  • "I’ve spoken to a certain president, who I like, actually," Trump said. "A past president, a former president. He said, 'I wish I did it.' But they didn't do it. I'm doing it."
  • Asked which former president he was referring to, Trump said, “I can’t tell you that. I don’t want to embarrass him. It would be very bad for his career, even though he’s got no career."
  • Representatives for all four living presidents who previously held office – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden – have since denied Trump's assertion.
  • Trump's claims came amidst reports of NATO allies refusing to heed his call for hep in the Strait of Hormuz, following his past criticisms of the alliance.

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