Fact Check: Did King Charles condemn Donald Trump’s Iran strikes in viral video?
WASHINGTON, DC: The United States carried out a series of airstrikes, called Operation Midnight Hammer, on three of Iran's nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, on June 21. The Pentagon described it as the “largest B-2 operational strike in US history.”
Following the strikes, a video began circulating online, claiming that King Charles III spoke about President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites. But is there any truth to the claim? Let’s find out below.
Claim: King Charles III spoke 'to the world' about Trump's Iran strikes
Following US airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran, a video went viral claiming to authentically show King Charles III addressing President Trump's decision to bomb the facilities.
In the alleged video, King Charles reportedly said, "When Donald Trump says Iran can be erased, when generals whisper of bunker busters and tactical firepower, and when Israel's skies glow with the sparks of retaliation, I do not stay silent. I will not let the world be dragged into chaos by those who speak louder than they think."
"Mr Trump, this is not a game of missiles, this is the fate of millions. And to those who cheer from the sidelines, know this: Every threat you make echoes far beyond your borders, and every move you make pulls this world closer to a fire. We may not survive, but Britain — Britain knows war," the royal added.
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He further said in the clip, "We've stood at the edge of destruction before, and we did not flinch. We've seen bombs fall, cities burn, kings flee but we never bowed. Now, once again, the world teeters and I say: We will not be dragged by ego; we will not follow fury. But if forced to rise, we will rise with fire in our chest and steel in our voice. To my people: Stand tall. To the world: Look to Britain not for war but for wisdom."
The viral clip circulated widely across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Fact Check: No credible evidence, viral speech is AI-generated hoax
The claims made in the viral video are false, as there is no credible evidence that King Charles III ever delivered the speech featured in the clip, according to Snopes.
Additionally, the speech does not appear on the royal family’s official website or social media accounts, nor has it been reported by any credible news outlet, the fact-checking site confirmed.
The video footage used in the clip is authentic but was taken from King Charles’ first address as monarch on September 9, 2022.
The clip also includes several real images of Donald Trump, some featuring him alongside British politician Nigel Farage, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and various media shots of Trump, as reported by the fact-checking outlet.
Furthermore, a deepfake audio detector, Hiya, found clips from the beginning, middle, and end of the speech highly likely to be generated by AI, per Snopes.
Donald Trump administration defends Iran strikes as targeted mission against nuclear threat
The Trump administration has defended its recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which were carried out without prior congressional approval or notification to top Democratic lawmakers, NPR reported.
During a June 22 television interview, top administration officials described the strike as a limited and targeted operation aimed at disrupting Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS’ Face the Nation', “It was not an attack on Iran. It was not an attack on the Iranian people. This wasn’t a regime change move.”
He added, “This was designed to degrade or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions.”
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance stated on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' that the US is not at war with Iran, but rather “at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”
“The president has clear authority to act to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the worst weapon of mass destruction of them all is nuclear,” he said.
