Fact Check: Did Trump say Israel must repay America every dollar spent on Iran war?
WASHINGTON, DC: Following the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm election, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump said Israel would have to pay back America for every dollar spent on the Iran war. The claim has sparked concern and speculation, with many questioning the claim and calling for a fact-check.
Claim: Donald Trump said Israel will have to pay back America for Iran war
The claim appeared as a post on X, which stated, “Donald Trump says Israel will have to pay back America for every single dollar spent fighting the Iran war.”
The post has garnered more than three million views as of this writing and has attracted mixed reactions from online users.
In the comments below the post, many users praised the president, suggesting that many believe the claim is true. Meanwhile, a few others remain skeptical and questioned the claim’s authenticity.
Fact Check: True, Donald Trump did say it
The claim is indeed true, as Trump did say that American allies in the Middle East, including Israel, will "pay" the US bill for the Iran war.
Trump's statement came after the administration acknowledged that the eight-month-long conflict played a major role in the Republican midterm loss last week.
"Those countries that we've protected are going to pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war," the president said in an interview with CBS News’ ‘60 Minutes’ on Sunday.
"Without us, Israel would not exist," he added.
Trump’s demand came as the Pentagon estimate for the conflict reached $47 billion, with billions spent on missile defence systems and military operations, amid mounting concerns over rising fuel prices and their political consequences.
Trump announces a new task force to tighten Iran blockade
On Sunday, Trump announced a new US task force, named Iron Gate, to tighten restrictions on Iran's military supply networks, which will target the movement of weapons, sanctioned materials, and other prohibited goods across Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.
In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that "Task Force Iron Gate is in full force and effect in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Coupled with history's greatest Naval Blockade, very little gets into, or out of, Iran!"
"The establishment of Task Force Iron Gate reinforces the success of our ironclad blockade against Iran at sea," Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of CENTCOM, said in the statement.
"Strengthening CENTCOM's collaboration with U.S. interagency partners will further constrain Iran's ability to finance terrorism, rebuild weapons factories, and replenish its military."
