U.S.President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS
(Washington, DC) – Months after he first said it, former President Donald Trump’s blunt remark about Israel and Iran is once again going viral on social media.
During a tense moment in June 2025, as fighting escalated between Israel and Iran despite a newly announced ceasefire framework, Trump told reporters at the White House:
“We basically — we have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f— they’re doing.”
The quote, originally delivered on June 24, 2025 before Trump departed for a NATO summit in The Hague, has resurfaced amid renewed online debate about U.S. foreign policy and America’s role in Middle East conflicts.
The Context Behind the Comment
At the time, Trump had just announced the parameters of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, describing what he called the end of the “12 day war.” But overnight strikes from both sides threatened to derail the agreement.
Trump publicly criticized both nations — an unusual move, particularly toward Israel, a longtime U.S. ally.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote in all caps:
“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
He later told reporters that both countries had violated the deal.
“They [Iran] violated it, but Israel violated it too,” Trump said. “I’m not happy with Israel. I’m not happy with Iran either.”
Hours later, speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he personally urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recall aircraft that were preparing for additional strikes.
“I said, ‘You gotta turn back the planes.’ … And they did, which I respect very greatly,” Trump said.
Why It’s Going Viral Now
Clips of the expletive-laced quote have been widely shared again across X and other platforms, with users debating:
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Whether Trump’s blunt tone reflects strength or recklessness
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His willingness to publicly criticize Israel
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The durability of the ceasefire he had declared would last “forever”
The original ceasefire followed reports of Iranian missile strikes, including one that hit a residential building in Beer Sheva, Israel, killing four people just before the truce was set to take effect. Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, vowed forceful responses if violations continued.
Trump had initially expressed strong confidence that the ceasefire would hold, telling NBC News at the time that he believed it would last “forever.”
A Break From Traditional Messaging
Trump’s public frustration marked a notable departure from the typically measured language used by U.S. presidents when addressing Israel. While he has long positioned himself as a strong ally of Israel, his comments reflected impatience with both sides’ continued hostilities.
Now, months later, the line is circulating again — a reminder of a volatile moment when a fragile ceasefire teetered on the brink.
As tensions in the region continue to shape global politics, Trump’s words are once again fueling debate online.
