Trump backs away from leadership turnover in Iran: ‘Regime change takes chaos’
President Trump on Tuesday backed away from talk of a regime change in Iran, amid pushback from MAGA supporters about the possibility of deeper U.S. involvement in the Middle East.
The president was asked if he wants an Iranian regime change and replied, “no.” He added that he wants to “see everything calm down as quickly as possible.”
“Regime change takes chaos and ideally we don't want to see so much chaos. So we'll see how it goes,” he told reporters on Air Force One on the way to The Hague for the NATO Summit.
“The Iranians are very good traders, very good business people, and they got a lot of oil. They should be fine,” he added. “They should be able to rebuild and do a good job. They're never going to have nuclear. But other than that, they should do a great job, which is exactly what I’ve been saying for years.”
Before leaving the White House, the president railed against Israel and Iran for continuing to fight overnight after the president announced the parameters of a ceasefire the day before.
The president on Sunday had suggested that a regime change could be possible in Iran, leaving the door open to getting involved with Iranian leadership after the U.S. bombed of the country’s nuclear sites. He dubbed it, "Make Iran Great Again."
“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
While the strikes on the nuclear facilities surprised some MAGA supporters because the president had campaigned on staying out of foreign conflicts, the administration signaled that military action could end there. But, when Trump then left the door open to a regime change, fears amongst supporters increased about the possibility of U.S. entanglement abroad.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday walked back Trump’s comment on Truth Social, saying he was just suggesting the Iranian people might want a new government, not suggesting a new front or motive to the war.