Karoline Leavitt insists Trump had a ‘feeling based on fact’ before Iran strikes but still won’t detail imminent threat to US
The Independent • • nation
Key Points:
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump's decision to attack Iran was based on a "feeling based on fact" that Iran was about to strike the U.S. and its allies, prompting Operation Epic Fury.
- The Trump administration has provided shifting and sometimes contradictory reasons for the military campaign, ranging from preventing Iran's nuclear program to preempting retaliatory attacks following Israeli actions.
- President Trump claimed he acted to prevent Iran from attacking first, suggesting he may have "forced Israel's hand," while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited retaliation for an assassination attempt on Trump as justification.
- The initial U.S.-Israeli strikes resulted in the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials
