Trump calls for regime change in Iran despite officials ruling it out as reason for strikes on nuke sites

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump has floated the idea of a regime change in Iran after striking the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear sites over the weekend.

This is in contrast to the opinions some officials in his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed after the strikes.

Taking to his Truth Social page, the president wrote, “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!!!”

His post came after he hailed the US’ attack on Iran, as reported by ABC News.

Trump congratulates ‘great American Warriors’ after hitting Iran

He had written, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space.”

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this,” he noted.

Concluding his post, the Republican leader added, “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Trump officials earlier downplayed wanting to change regime in Iran

But Trump’s aides, including Vice President JD Vance, dismissed the regime change idea, soon after the strikes on the Iranian nuclear sites.

He said, as per USA Today, “We don't want a regime change. We want to end the nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here.”

Also, Secretary of State Marc Rubio shared on CBS’ 'Face the Nation', “There are a lot of regimes around the world that we don’t like, okay? But in this particular case, what we are focused on is not the changing of the regime.”

Even Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth clarified that the US strike on Iran “was not and has not been about regime change.” “The president authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program,” he added.

MTG slams Trump’s decision to attack Iran

Meanwhile, many in the US, including Trump’s allies, have criticized the US attack on Iran.

Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X, “Every time America is on the verge of greatness, we get involved in another foreign war. There would not be bombs falling on the people of Israel if Netanyahu had not dropped bombs on the people of Iran first. Israel is a nuclear armed nation. This is not our fight. Peace is the answer.”

In another post, she added, “I’m sick of it. I can easily say I support nuclear armed Israel’s right to defend themselves and also say at the same time I don’t want to fight or fund nuclear armed Israel’s wars. Nor any other country for that matter.”