All four living former US presidents have denied President Donald Trump’s repeated claim that one of them privately praised his recent military strikes on Iran. Aides to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden told multiple news outlets that none of the former presidents had spoken with Trump recently.
Trump told reporters at least three times on Monday that a predecessor had expressed approval for his actions. “I’ve spoken to a certain president, who I like, actually. A past president, a former president. He said, 'I wish I did it.' But they didn't do it. I'm doing it,” Trump said, refusing to name the individual.
A spokesperson for Clinton told The Independent that no such conversation had taken place. Aides to Bush, Obama and Biden issued similar denials to CNN, the Associated Press and NBC News. An aide to Bush said the two presidents “haven’t been in touch” for a while, while an Obama aide said there were “no recent conversations.” A source familiar with the matter told NBC News that Biden was not the president in question.
The claims come as Trump seeks to bolster confidence in the ongoing US military strikes in Iran, which have sparked a broader conflict in the Middle East. “For 47 years, no president was willing to do what I’m doing,” Trump claimed. The administration has blamed media outlets for negative reporting on the war.
Thirteen US service members and reportedly more than a thousand Iranian civilians have been killed in the conflict, while the critical Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to global shipping, driving up oil prices. NATO allies have repeatedly refused to join the war, despite Trump’s pleas.
