By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monday evening, President Trump announced he had brokered a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran that would have ended the 12-day conflict within 24 hours.
Things did not go exactly as President Trump had planned. Within just a few hours of the announcement, the two adversaries were again trading missile attacks. President Trump’s frustration with the two countries was on display Tuesday morning at the White House.
“We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing,” said President Trump.
Following fresh rocket attacks from Israel, President Trump accused both Israel and Iran of violating the ceasefire he had brokered just hours earlier.
“These guys have got to calm down. This is ridiculous,” said Trump.
In the early hours of the ceasefire, Israel said Iran violated the terms. The Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles launched at them from Iran and launched an “intensive operation” on Tehran in response.
However, President Trump expressed some of his harshest criticism for Israel yet.
“As soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs—the likes of which I’ve never seen before. The biggest load that we’ve seen. I’m not happy with Israel,” said Trump.
There are some Republicans in Congress who have criticized Trump’s weekend attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, but most say it was the right move.
“Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear capability,” said Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.). “That’s just the way it happens to be. It has to be that way because they have proven in the last 45 years that they cannot successfully use them for good.”
“This was a very bold and decisive move by the president. And I think the world is a safer place today because of it,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY.), one of many lawmakers keeping their fingers crossed that a ceasefire can last in the Middle East.
“I pray that that’s the outcome,” said Langworthy. “I think that the president has shown that he’s willing to make decisive actions by America showing its military might on the world stage. It puts our adversaries on notice.”
Meanwhile, Democrats blasted the administration Tuesday on Capitol Hill.
“He has botched his promises on the economy and he’s botched his promises on creating peace in the Middle East. The real question that people are asking here in America is what the ‘F’ is Donald Trump doing,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY.).
In the Senate, Democrats also criticized the administration over its decision to postpone a classified briefing on Iran scheduled for Tuesday.
“This last-minute postponement of our briefing is outrageous, it’s evasive, it’s derelict,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY.). “They’re bobbing and weaving and ducking. Senators deserve full transparency. There is a legal obligation for the administration to inform Congress about precisely what is happening. What are they afraid of?”
Shortly after the president’s morning comments, he spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “firm and direct.” He then posted on Truth Social claiming a ceasefire is in effect:
“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect! Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The president departed the White House Tuesday morning for this year’s NATO summit in the Netherlands. He is only scheduled to stay for 24 hours.
