The White House is working to address a backlash from conservative commentators who are accusing the Trump administration of inconsistent messaging regarding its military operation against Iran.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a detailed statement defending the president against complaints that he and his advisers have been unclear and at times contradictory in justifying the conflict.
While she did not address whether Trump is seeking regime change in Iran, as he suggested in his remarks to the nation over the weekend, she did identify the destruction of Iran’s military and its terrorist proxies as key objectives.
“Killing terrorists is good for America,” Leavitt said in a sharp X post in response to conservative podcaster and analyst Matt Walsh.
“On Saturday, President Trump released a statement laying out clear objectives to the American people for Operation Epic Fury. Let me reiterate them: Destroy the Iranian regime’s missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. Annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy. Ensure the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces. Stop them from making and using IEDs or roadside bombs, which have gravely wounded and killed thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. Guarantee that Iran can NEVER obtain a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt declared.
“Preventing this radical regime and its terrorist leaders from threatening America and our core national security interests is a clear-eyed and necessary objective. Killing terrorists is good for America. 49 of the most senior Iranian regime leaders – including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – have already been wiped off the face of the Earth so far in the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury,” she continued.
Leavitt added, “Finally, while Operation Midnight Hammer did obliterate Iran’s major nuclear sites, the regime was fully committed to rebuilding their nuclear program, and they REFUSED to make a deal, despite months of extensive talks and good faith efforts by President Trump’s top negotiators. Simply put, the terrorist Iranian regime would not say yes to peace.”
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has actively and intentionally facilitated the killing of Americans while chanting ‘death to America’ and funding other bloodthirsty terrorists seeking to destroy the United States and all of Western Civilization. Prior American leaders were too weak and cowardly to do anything about it. Now, President Donald J. Trump is correcting decades of cowardice and holding those responsible for the deaths of Americans accountable. Their brutal attacks and threats will finally end under President Trump. America will win – the terrorists will be defeated,” Leavitt concluded.
Walsh also highlighted the conflicting statements from Trump and his advisers regarding whether the strikes were preemptive.
Trump referred to the Iranian threat as “imminent” on Saturday, although officials later revised that description.
Additionally, Walsh questioned why the administration cited the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program as a third objective, especially since officials declared that the country’s facilities had been “obliterated” last year.
“So far, we’ve heard that although we killed the whole Iranian regime, this was not a regime change war. And although we obliterated their nuclear program, we had to do this because of their nuclear program. And although Iran was not planning any attacks on the US, they also might have been, depending on who you ask,” Walsh said.
“The messaging on this thing is, to put it mildly, confused,” he added.
Walsh was echoed by Sean Davis, Saagar Enjeti, and other conservative commentators who spent the day criticizing the administration for its poor messaging regarding the conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his frustration on Monday while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill. He clarified that the “clear objective” of the administration was to neutralize Iran’s navy and its short-range missile capabilities.
“I don’t understand what the confusion is,” Rubio said.