Donald Trump reveals how 'fake news' CNN prompted one of the most consequential moments of his presidency
Trump spoke about the period in late June when he suddenly announced he would decide 'within two weeks' whether or not to join Israel 's attack on Iran, only to bomb key nuclear facilities two days later.
He made the comment after describing a 'hidden press' in the country and saying 'word of mouth is more important than the press,' and blaming the media for the timing of his attack.
He was contrasting the attack on three Iran nuclear facilities with the attempt to rescue American hostages that Jimmy Carter ordered in 1980.
'The helicopters were coming down, and they were crashing and men were all over the place trying to get the hell out of there,' Trump said, having previously said that in contrast the U.S. 'totally obliterated' Iran's nuclear sites.
Trump described a previously reported diversionary tactic of sending B-2 stealth bombers to Guam.
'Everybody thought we were flying to Guam, and they said, Oh, they're going to Guam. Well, Guam's out of the way. At the same time, we had some others go in a different direction,' Trump said.
Then he complained about watching 'horrible' CNN.
'And I saw that they had basically the plans of when we're going in, when we would be entering Iranian oil airspace and, and I said, you know, that's weird,' he said, apparently referencing reports that said an attack could come within days.
He says he called Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine and Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth.
'I said, I'm watching newscasts where they're saying what time you're taking off tomorrow and what time you're going to be entering the very dangerous air space, the worst air space anywhere there is anywhere that in the world.'
Trump says they told him 'We'll blow them away, and we'll be fine.'
'I said, "but wouldn't a surprise be better?" Yeah, it would be better. I said, well, then let me cancel it and make it a different time.'
'I said, I'm canceling it,' Trump said. 'And then I had a meeting, and I said, I have an idea ... So everyone knew was being canceled. I said, let's leave it the exact same time we were supposed to.' The strikes occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday June 21.
'That was the only time they knew we wouldn't be coming in,' Trump said, earning applause from the crowd of donors he said were organized by head of his faith office Paula White-Cain.
Trump also shared new operational details about the mission, which was carried out by B-2 bombers based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
'We had 52 tankers, tankers, the gasoline tankers, and they rode along with them at different aspects, and they refuel and not a not a screw was broken, not a nut, not a not a mark was on those planes,' Trump said.
'Every engine was perfect when they landed. They were just as good as when they took us. Think of that 37 hours and about 40 minutes to a very rough territory,' Trump said.
As it turns out, 52 is the exact number mentioned four years ago when he warned Iran not to retaliate after ordering the strike that took out Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
'We have … targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture' and 'if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets… Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard,' Trump posted on Twitter (now X).
Trump's comments about Iran came at an event that ended in prayer which ended with a brief performance of religious music by White's husband, Jonathan Cain of Journey.
Trump has previously gone after the network for airing reports questioning the effectiveness of the strike on the nuclear facilities.
Daily Mail has asked the White House for information on any specific report that prompted Trump to change an attack plan and has also reached out to CNN.
Trump's remarks included multiple elements of what Trump calls the 'weave,' when he brings together disparate stories.
He called fed chair Jerome Powell a 'knucklehead,' blasted transgender men taking part in women's sports, went after Sen. Susan Collins for opposing his 'big, beautiful bill,' and made several jokes about wealthy attendees.
Trump said the case for his megabill was easy because it would either make the economy strong if it passed, 'or you're going to literally have perhaps a depression where you people – so rich, so beautiful, so nice to look at, will be totally busted. And let's see how long your wife stays with you.'
Trump said he was spared from assassin's bullet by God, and also went after his former Energy Secretary Rick Perry for suggesting he phone Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. That call ultimately led to his impeachment after he asked Zelensky to investigate his then-rival Joe Biden.
'I get indicted for making a phone call. I told that Secretary – who wasn't the smartest bulb, he wasn't – Rick Perry, you don't want him on your debate team, let me put it that way. Rick, you're not going to be on my debate team, Rick. But he's the one that asked me to do it, Rick Perry. And I said, Thanks, Rick. That was a wonderful suggestion. He just got indicted ...' drawing laughs.
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