Trump: A Former US President Praised My Iran Attack

But he's not saying which one, and people close to all four men deny it
Posted Mar 17, 2026 11:12 AM CDT
Trump: A Former US President Praised My Iran Attack
President Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday, March 16, 2026.   (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

On two separate occasions Monday, President Trump said he had spoken to a former US president who praised his war on Iran. But people close to all four of his living predecessors—George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden—say it wasn't their man, reports NBC News. Details:

  • "I've spoken to a certain president—who I like, actually," said Trump at a public lunch event. "A past president, former president, he said: 'I wish I did it. I wish I did.' But they didn't do it. I'm doing it. Yeah?"
  • Later in the day, Trump said: "I spoke to one of the former presidents who I actually like. I actually speak to some. And he said, 'I wish I did what you did.'"

In response to a question, Trump ruled out Bush, but declined to elaborate on which of the three Democrats he meant, per the New York Times. Last month, when Clinton was being deposed in the Jeffrey Epstein case, Trump said that he liked Clinton. On Monday, reporters asked him directly if it was Clinton he spoke to about Iran. "I don't want to say," responded Trump, per the Hill. "It's somebody that happens to like me. And I like that person, who's a smart person."

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