Donald Trump is facing backlash after a strange and tense exchange with a reporter, during which he issued an ominous “danger” warning amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The former president was speaking to journalists shortly after arriving in New Jersey on Friday (June 20), where he addressed the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump appeared to hint that U.S. involvement in the situation was increasingly likely.
Asked whether the United States would intervene, Trump responded vaguely: “I may do it, I may not do it.” However, sources suggest a decision could be made within the next two weeks.
During the exchange, Trump voiced alarm over Iran’s nuclear program and dismissed recent comments by his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard had previously stated that U.S. intelligence did not believe Iran was actively developing nuclear weapons — a claim Trump directly contradicted, insisting she was “wrong.”
The interview took a bizarre turn when Trump abruptly warned one of the reporters that they were “in danger,” a moment that quickly circulated online and drew criticism. Critics have since labeled the former president “unhinged,” questioning both the tone and substance of his remarks.
However, in a bizarre segment of the live interview, Trump suggested reporters on the ground were in ‘danger’ just by talking to him about it.
Trump spoke at length about the Iran-Israel conflict (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
A journalist asked him if he was worried if Iran proxies would ‘wage terror attacks against American targets abroad’ if he were to order military action, to which he said: “We’re always concerned about that and we have to take them out and be very strong.
“You’re even in danger talking to me right now, do you know that?”
He reiterated: “You are in danger talking to me right now, so I should probably get out of here. But you guys are actually in danger. Can you believe it?”
Dozens have since taken to social media to slam his answer as ‘completely unhinged’.
“A leader talking about danger around them doesn’t project strength, just fear. It’s unsettling, not reassuring,” said another.
“Every time he speaks, it’s just another blast of delusional bulls***,” a third chimed.
However, others pointed out Trump was alluding to the fact his life could be at risk, particularly as the POTUS is convinced Iran is building nuclear weapons.
Tehran has been under attack from Israeli strikes for the past week (KHOSHIRAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Elsewhere in the interview, he said he was ‘right’ about the country gathering a ‘tremendous amount of material’.
“I think within a matter of weeks or certainly within a matter of months, they will be able to have a nuclear weapon and we can’t let that happen,” he added.
When asked if he could persuade Israel to withdraw, he claimed the country is ‘winning’ the fight and would be difficult to get them to pull back.
His comments come as press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump is considering all the options in the coming weeks.
Delivering a message from Trump, she said: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
Trump skipped out on the G7 leaders summit in Canada early (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
She added that the president’s ‘top priority’ is ensuring Iran doesn’t construct a nuclear weapon.
The pressure on the US has escalated this week, prompting Trump to prematurely skip out on the G7 leaders summit a day early on Monday (June 16) and issue a warning to residents in Tehran, Iran’s capital, to evacuate.
The next day, the US Air Force’s ‘Doomsday plane,’ equipped to handle nuclear catastrophe, was seen traversing the skies, while Trump held a meeting with his top national security advisers from the Situation Room where he decided he would approve strike action on Iran if it came to it.
On his Truth Social platform, the 79-year-old said Iran ‘should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign’, adding: “What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again!”
He then told reporters on Wednesday (June 18) that his patience had ‘run out’ with Iran.
“I give up,” he said. “No more. Then we go blow up all the, you know, all the nuclear stuff that’s all over the place there.”
