President Donald Trump ordered U.S. military involvement in an Israeli attack on Iran due to a belief that Iran was poised to strike first, a perspective differing from the account provided earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio explained that the U.S. preemptively attacked to avoid anticipated Iranian retaliation against American forces following Israeli military actions.
“We knew there was going to be an Israeli action; we knew that would lead to an attack on American forces, and we preemptively engaged to avoid higher casualties,” Rubio stated.
Trump dismissed suggestions that Israel influenced U.S. decisions, defending his administration’s actions amid criticism from both supporters and Democrats, labeling it a “war of choice.”
During an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump stated, “I might have forced their (Israel’s) hand. We were in negotiations, and I believed they would attack first. It was necessary to act.”
Iran described the U.S. assault as unprovoked.
Conservative commentators, including Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly, have criticized the administration’s actions, questioning whether the U.S. was led by Israeli interests.
Walsh commented on Rubio’s statement to his social media followers, while Kelly expressed skepticism about the decision to engage militarily with Iran, asserting the U.S. should prioritize its own interests.
The criticism arises as the Republican Party seeks to maintain congressional control in the upcoming midterm elections.
The differing accounts have prompted the White House to focus on addressing these issues, as Trump engaged publicly to clarify decision-making processes since the U.S.-Israeli air operations began three days ago.
The president cited a perceived imminent threat from Iran following U.S. negotiations in Geneva, though no evidence was provided.
Senior administration officials detailed recent negotiations, noting U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner urged Iran to end its uranium enrichment program, perceiving Iranian responses as delaying tactics.
Trump’s decision followed a report from the negotiators indicating that securing a nuclear agreement, similar to the 2015 deal under former President Barack Obama, would require months of talks.
