Trump says Iran strike that killed Khamenei prevented threat: 'I got him before he got me'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump spoke to ABC News regarding the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, claiming the strike was necessary to stop the Iranian leader from trying to kill him, stating, "They tried twice. Well, I got him first."
He also claimed the attack wiped out Iran’s top leaders, including those who were supposed to take over the government next.
In another phone call this evening, President Trump told me this about the death of Ayatollah Khamenei:
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) March 2, 2026
"I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well I got him first."
That’s a reference to what US intelligence believes was a plot to kill Trump in 2024.
Trump says strike stopped Iran threat
In a conversation with reporter Jonathan Karl on Sunday, March 1, Trump said the US military also acted to stop a direct threat against his life.
He explained that he believed Iran was planning to attack him again, so he decided to strike first. Regarding the situation, he said, "I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first."
DOJ links Iran plots to Trump threat
The roots of this conflict trace back to 2024, when US officials uncovered plots they believe were organized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the Department of Justice, the plots were attempts to seek revenge for the 2020 death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
In one case, a man was caught trying to hire hitmen who turned out to be FBI agents in disguise.
While Iran has denied involvement in these plots, US prosecutors maintain that the country has been running a campaign targeting various American officials.
Trump says strike wiped out Iran successors
President Trump claimed that the recent US military operation did more than stop a threat; it reshaped Iran’s potential leadership.
He told ABC News that the strike was so precise it killed those who were in line to become the country’s new leaders.
Explaining the result of the mission, Trump said, "The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates." He added that the regime's future is now uncertain, stating, "It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead."
Trump predicts short war, addresses casualties
When Jonathan Karl asked about the expected duration of the conflict, the president shared his initial assessment that the engagement would be brief.
"He always thought it was going to be a 4 or 5 week deal... a 4 or 5 week operation," Karl reported, noting that Trump mentioned the effort could be shorter, though he was prepared to extend it if necessary.
Regarding the three Americans killed during the conflict, the president maintained that losses are an unfortunate reality of combat.
"The President said it's war and you have casualties in war," Karl added.
Trump also remarked on the relatively low number of US losses across several recent military engagements, including operations in Venezuela, the previous strike in Iran last summer, and the current conflict.
