Trump Issues Fresh Threats Against Iran, Praises Netanyahu, and Reacts to Alleged Attack on Putin’s Residence

Photo File (X/@nypost)

US President Donald Trump on Monday issued strong warnings against Iran, praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and commented on fresh developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict during remarks to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Speaking while welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on the next phase of the Gaza plan, Trump said Iran was attempting to rebuild its military capabilities. “I hear Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said, while also stating that he remained open to negotiating a “deal,” which he described as a “much smarter” option.

Trump strongly endorsed Netanyahu’s leadership, saying Israel’s survival depended on having the right prime minister. “I feel that if you had the wrong prime minister, Israel would not exist,” he said. Trump also claimed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him he intended to pardon Netanyahu in corruption-related cases.

The former US president added that he hoped Israel could eventually improve relations with Syria, despite ongoing Israeli actions that have violated Syrian territorial sovereignty since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad late last year.

Turning to the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Ukraine had attempted to attack Putin’s residence in northern Russia. Kyiv has denied the allegation, while Moscow has provided no evidence to support the claim.

“I don’t like it. It’s not good,” Trump said when asked if the accusation could undermine peace efforts. “I learned about it from President Putin today. I was very angry about it.” He described the situation as a “delicate period,” saying this was “not the right time” for such actions.

When questioned about evidence of the alleged attack, Trump said, “We’ll find out,” adding that his phone call with Putin earlier in the day was a “very good talk,” though he acknowledged that negotiations to end the war face “very thorny issues.”

Russia currently controls around one-fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and claims the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, all internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory. Moscow is demanding Ukraine withdraw troops from parts of Donetsk it has not occupied, while Kyiv seeks a ceasefire along existing front lines. Washington has reportedly proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine pulls its forces back.