Trump describes Iran war horrors in Oval Office full of kids: 'Right between the eyes'
By: John Bowden (The Independent)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Children and athletes assembled for Trump's reinstatement of the presidential fitness exam became his captive audience for Iran war and trans athlete rants on Tuesday
President Donald Trump described Iranian protesters being shot "between the eyes" by snipers as he subjected a room full of White House guests made up largely of children to a rant about the Iran war on Tuesday.
Trump gave the group of children, reporters and some pro athletes a stark and somewhat gory look into the Iran war as he did his usual weave with the cameras rolling to repeat his most pressing talking points in graphic terms. He then followed it up by launching into a Q&A session with the media, leaving his young guests standing awkwardly by as he rambled on about unrelated issues.
"They would have had a nuclear weapon," the president told golfer Gary Player, flanked by several young children, with several more standing on the other side of the president. "And, remember, we sent that beautiful B-2 bomber in ... we blew up their nuclear potential. It was obliterated.
"Iran with a nuclear weapon...maybe we wouldn't all be here right now," he continued. "I can tell you, the Middle East would have been gone. Israel would have been gone. And they would have trained their sights on Europe, first, and then us."
In one of the more surreal moments, the president was asked by a reporter — with a young child standing directly beside him — whether he believed Iranian protesters could topple their government if armed by the U.S., and the president responded by describing the brutal massacre of protesters.
open image in galleryDonald Trump described to a group of children and other White House guests Tuesday how Iranian protesters were shot by snipers (Getty Images)
"They don't have any guns. You can have 200,000 people protesting and have five or six sick people with guns, and when they start shooting them right between the eyes, and you see a guy fall, and another one fall, and you have no guns." Trump, surrounded by the kids, said.
"They killed 42,000 people last month. 42,000 unarmed protesters."
He didn't end there, reaching back to the protests after the killing of a 22-year-old Iranian woman in the custody of Iran's religious police in 2022 and 2023 and describing again how snipers were allegedly deployed to kill unarmed protesters, although the president erroneously described it as having occurred "last year."
Explaining how the massive throngs of protesters, including women, took to the streets after Mahsa Amini's killing, Trump said: "Everyone thought that was the end of Iran."
"And then, suddenly, a woman dropped dead with a bullet right there. Always right there," the president said, pointing to the space between his eyes.
Trump also, at one point, launched into a recollection of the U.S. interception of a vessel that tried to breach the blockade the Trump administration has imposed around the Strait of Hormuz, which itself remains largely shut down by Iranian forces including minelayers. In an odd aside, he turned to golfer Gary Player standing behind him and addressed him by name, repeating his refrain that one single shot to the vessel's engine from a U.S. Navy ship disabled the vessel.
The bizarre scene unfolded as Trump's war with Iran is now well into its third month and there is little sign that negotiations around a resolution to the conflict have restarted with any intention. The Strait of Hormuz remains shut down and blockaded by U.S. forces, with vessels unwilling to risk mines or the potential of being fired upon by Iranian vessels in the key waterway.
Oil prices continue to rise, although the Trump administration said this week it would begin escorting vessels through the strait individually.
open image in galleryVisibly bored, a group of children listened to Trump talk about protesters being murdered in Iran and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz at a White House event on Tuesday (AP)
He was joined at his event on Tuesday by Cabinet Secretaries Linda McMahon, Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the latter of whom launched into his own extended discussion about the president's physical fitness test after some prompting by Trump — one of the few on-topic moments of the event.
Trump's tendency to rant about news-of-the-day issues and a selection of key favorites, like his D.C. beautification initiative, is often on display these days at White House events. Tuesday's marked the first time it has occurred in front of a crowd of children, who were also subjected to a short rant about transgender rights and "men in women's sports".
"I've never had one person say it's important we allow women to be challenged by men in women's sports," the president said, turning to the children next to him. "I've been president for five years."
The president also threatened Iran again, issuing a scaled-down version of his more dire warning to end Iran's civilization: "We don't want to go in and kill people, really don't."
open image in gallerySecretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regaled the kids with tales of his dad, RFK, and uncle, President John F. Kennedy's efforts to instill the importance of fitness in school regimens (AFP/Getty)
But U.S. forces appear little closer to ending effective Iranian control of the strait and have made no public progress on the administration's other stated objectives, which include securing Iran's remaining enriched nuclear material, fully demolishing the Iranian enrichment program, ending the threat of Iran's ballistic missiles, or even toppling the regime itself. All of these objectives, and more, have been offered by the president, members of his team, and the White House's allies in Congress for the strikes that began on Feb. 28 — none of which have been achieved.
Trump has frequently turned to issuing grave threats towards Iran's country as a whole, including vowing that U.S. forces would strike bridges and power plants as well as a particularly grim declaration on the eve of a ceasefire deadline to end Iranian civilization.
He echoed that one on Monday, warning that Iran would be "blown off the face of the Earth" if U.S. forces or vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked.
During his Q&A with reporters on Tuesday, Trump only said that he would "let you know", referring to the press, when he thought Iran had formally violated the ceasefire amid continued reports of U.S. vessels being fired upon.
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As he kept a group of 8 -11 year olds standing around him for the better part of an hour, Trump ranted about the war, trans kids, the 2020 election (he won if you were wondering), and whatever else entered the swamp between his ears. Oh yeah, the Nobel Peace Prize he alone deserved but didnt get until a nice lady told him that he deserved it more than she did. He also described someone being shot "right between the eyes".
To the kids credit some of them apparently started yawning.
He told one little girl that she should give up her dream of playing volleyball because she's too short. I imagine that little girl will have a growth spurt in about 4-5 years then she can spike a volleyball....(fill in the blank)
You sure they weren't gasping for breath from diaper Donny?
While I don't agree that Trump was correct in speaking about those things to 8 to 11 year olds I have to wonder[✘]
Well ... good! The PotUS should not be subjecting kids to gory details related to the Iran war. No other PotUS would do that ... other than the moron occupying the Oval office today.
Where on Earth does this come from? A wild leap to try to balance a mild criticism.
The right wing talking points memo.
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Do you get them because I don't
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Interesting since you always quote from them.
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Yes, I have a source in the magasphere who provides them to me so we can know in advance the lunatic shit right wingers are going to say.
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Yes, my source knows that you use the word "Reactionary" on here often and always incorrectly.
removed for context
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I'll take what a reactionary would say for a thousand Ken...
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Well, we have to wonder if you have wondered too far off to wander back home, here in reality land.
There are probably a few thousand gender confused amongst our what, 335,000,000 Million or so, and he is still harping on it as if it were a major plague infecting America, all while he downplayed and LIED about an actual major plague that affected Millions of Americans.
This is not some major theme democrats ran on, as they are just for US being able to make our own choices about ourselves as isn't that what this country was founded upon ? Do you think the GOP religious path to teach force people back to the gender you or they desire they be, is the right path ?
I'm all for no women in men's sports and a proper age to be reached before medical applications, but acting like THESE ISSUES are So Damn Important as our economy crumbles, inflation is shooting up, Trumps taffiffs are screwing US All and Trump started a WAR, a damn WAR that he ran on NOT DOING as he claimed America First as he bails out Argentina, destroys decades long trading partners and threatens NATO allies while Putins Russia benefits, and of course, the Epstein files or better known as The Trumpmaxstein oligarch club of child rape and trafficking class still remains hidden buy a compromised piece of shit who's sycophantic administration of inept ass kissing cabinet of fools, praise and drools, over the old fart sleeping through public gatherings and meetings on a regular basis. And as the war continues on he complains about the 'little' people complaining about how UNaffordable EVERYTHING IS and has gotten much worse after he campaigned and got elected on ending the Ukraine war, lowering inflation, bringing down the price of gas which is now averaging about $5 per gallon, and doing away with waste and fraud, all as his family and he fleece all of US to the tunes of Billions as markets are manipulated, his sons invest millions in drone companies that our military must purchase from, a week and a half before the unprovoked lied about war with Iran began. His beautiful ballroom that he said wouldn't cost taxpayers a dime, is suddenly going to be put on our tab for One BILLION ! From all donations not costing US a dime, to one FCKN BILION !! WTF man. Tearing down our history and attempting to replace it with things named after the Pedophile and pedophile protector in chief is just beyond belief, yet, here we are in a world bazaar due to people who would have flipped a gasket and shoved a dem like Obama in a casket if he were to accept $400 Million dollar gifts that are said to cost US All a Billion to modify and Tump takes it with him "to his library" and does whatever and the Saudi's dumped 2BILLION into ole son in law Jared Kushner's investment firm right after the first term, could you imagine if Hunter Biden had done something like this, cause I recall the world ending over Biden's $20 mill that I also think was bullshit, but not illegal, and all while the Trump family Crypto has Billions being invested by a convicted swindler that Trump pardoned amongst thousands more who only need donate to the man whore corrupting grifter du jour. Where would we be if Obama, a black man, decided to put his signature on our currency, rename the Kennedy center, or the Obama Ballroom , or Arch De Obama Triumph over Greenland and Venezuela ??? Cause this shit show is just gone so far beyond bazaar it is freaky and anyone not calling it out is not a habitant of reality, imho
Feel free to wonder anything you want. People are free, no, encouraged to wonder.
conservatives focus on the dumbest issues
they can't help themselves because the dumbest issues don't require critical thinking on their part
Very well said, Iggy. And all so very true.
Trump never misses an opportunity to be a miserable S.O.B.
Compare this to George W. Bush's reaction to finding out about 9-11 while visiting an elementary school classroom. He kept calm and carried on, because he was aware of the effect his reaction would have on children.
He certainly wasn't my favorite President, but compared to the idiot in the WH now, he seems downright wise.
Who would of thought we'd be left wishing we had a potUS like George Bush again who led US to war over magic Mushroom clouds ??? But I sure as hell would take him in a heartbeat over this sick fck
There are days I actually miss Dubya
he wasn't cut out for the family biz, any of them ...
a really nice guy in person I've heard, but too easily manipulated and influenced by his dad's cronies ...
the hilarious internet meme of bush jr sitting there with a confounded facial expression holding the upside down book is burned into my brain.
... as is the video of jr's face after dodging a flying shoe.
Morning...One single shot disabled an Iranian vessel.. going by Trumpet...
Hell we heard the Iranians never even had to fire a shot.
Wasn't a US carrier was taken out of action by a laundry fire?
somebody didn't clean a lint filter and a $13 billion dollar aircraft carrier is almost rendered useless ... go team america ...