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Trump threatens Iran's supreme leader, escalating his rhetoric about the conflict
President Trump returned to the White House early on June 17, 2025, cutting his time short at the G7 summit in Canada because he said he wanted to focus on the Iran-Israel conflict.
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Trump threatens Iran
President Trump called Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an "easy target" but said, "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now."
President Trump escalated his rhetoric against Iran on Tuesday, issuing a threat on social media against its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and taking credit for having "complete and total control of the skies over Iran."
"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," Trump said in a post .
That is a rhetorical step further than Trump had gone on Monday. He had been asked about whether he wanted to see regime change in Iran, and replied: "I want to see no nuclear weapon in Iran, and we're well on our way to making sure that happens."
On Tuesday, Trump suggested that Iran would cross a red line if it attacked U.S. assets in the Middle East. "We don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin," Trump said.
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An outsized portion of the Iranian diaspora make their homes in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Nearly 140,000 immigrants from Iran — representing more than one in three of all Iranian immigrants in the U.S. — live in the L.A. area. More than half of all Iranian immigrants to the U.S. live in California overall.
He had earlier told reporters that he didn't think Iran would strike U.S. assets in the region because of the risk of retaliation. "Oh, we'll come down so hard. If they do anything to our people, we'll come down so hard. Then the gloves are off so beautifully," Trump said. "I think they know not to touch our troops. We'll find out."
The conflict has divided Trump supporters
When Israel launched its strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities last week, the White House had sought to make clear that it was not involved, issuing a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Israel had carried out the strikes unilaterally.
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An early intelligence report found U.S. strikes on Iran sites may only have set its nuclear program back "a few months." Trump said it was inconclusive, but believes damage was more severe. -
President Trump demanded that Israel back off further attacks on Iran after accusing both countries of violating the ceasefire. -
The president made the announcement on social media, but officials in Israel and Iran have yet to announce it for themselves. His post came hours after Iran launched on attack on a U.S. base in Qatar.
But on Tuesday, Trump suggested
on social media
that the United States was involved to some degree after all. "We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran," Trump said, noting that American equipment was being used.
Trump also called for " UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER !" from Iran — and did not mention anything about negotiating with Iran, which previously had been his focus. Earlier on Tuesday, reporters had asked Trump whether he would send Vice President Vance and his special envoy Steve Witkoff to negotiate with Iranian officials.
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"Depends on what happens when I get back," he told reporters traveling with him from the G7 in Canada. "I don't know. I'm not too much in a mood to negotiate."
Trump has long been known for his "America First" ethos and non-interventionist stance, campaigning to disentangle the United States from foreign wars. As Israel's strikes on Iran have intensified, some of his prominent supporters have urged him not to get involved in the conflict.
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The judge has previously sided with UC scholars several times since June in halting Trump’s termination of science and health research funding. -
The overhaul shifts funds to transitional housing requiring work and addiction treatment. The administration says it promotes "self-sufficiency," but critics warn many will risk losing housing again. -
Americans are feeling the strain of high prices, even as President Trump tries to tout "record highs" in the stock market.
Trump has bristled at some of the criticism, particularly from former Fox News host Tucker Carlson . "Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'" Trump posted on his social media platform.
On Tuesday, the White House circulated a long list of quotes from Trump over the years seeking to show that he has long held the position that Iran's nuclear program must be stopped.
Vice President Vance also weighed in on social media , saying Trump had shown "restraint" in the crisis but has the right to decide to get more involved.
"He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment," Vance said. "That decision ultimately belongs to the president."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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