Overview
- The president, speaking at the Future Investment Initiative in Miami on Friday, said he likes to “hang around with losers” and that he “hate[s] guys that are very, very successful.”
- He asserted that Iran’s top leaders are dead and that the country’s navy and air force are “totally… dead,” adding that Iran is “begging to make a deal,” which outlets reported as his claims rather than verified facts.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war but has no intention of entering direct talks with Washington.
- Trump also called Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani a “great leader” and a “mad genius,” a notable remark given Soleimani was killed in a 2020 U.S. strike ordered by Trump.
- The remarks came in an unscripted Q&A where he invited any topic, joked about the “Strait of Trump” after mentioning the Strait of Hormuz, and drew swift social-media criticism over his tone and judgment.