White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to reporters early on Monday morning amid the escalating situation with U.S. involvement in Israel’s war with Iran.
The U.S. entered Israel’s war by bombing Iran on Saturday night, hitting three nuclear sites in the first ever use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator “Bunker Buster” bombs.
Iran has already responded, first with the Iranian Parliament voting to close the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, which will disrupt the global oil market. Then today, as The Gateway Pundit reported, Iran launched multiple attacks on U.S. bases at a US base in Qatar.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, President Trump addressed the nation on Saturday night, hours after the attack, where he threatened Iran that “there are many targets left,” and “we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill” if they retaliate.
The initial strikes drew criticism from many Trump supporters, who are tired of foreign wars and meddling in other countries with regime changes.
But Trump came out a day after the attack, suggesting regime change in Iran! “Why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he said.
Leavitt addressed reporters this morning and took questions on the President’s comments regarding regime change, potential negotiations with Iran, and Iran’s potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Asked whether the President was considering an assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Leavitt said she’s not going to “get ahead of the President.”
WATCH:
Reporter: When the President is floating the idea of regime change, how does he believe that should be accomplished? Through the Iranians, the Israelis or the Americans?
Leavitt: The President’s posture and our military posture has not changed. The President was just simply raising a question that I think many people around the world are asking: If the Iranian regime refuses to give up their nuclear program or engage in talks— We just took out their nuclear program on Saturday night, as you all know. But if they refuse to engage in diplomacy moving forward, why shouldn’t the Iranian people rise up against this brutal terrorist regime? That’s a question the President raised last night. But as far as our military posture, it hasn’t changed.
Reporter: What is the timetable the President has given Iran right now to come to the negotiating table?
Leavitt: He has made his message to Iran quite clear.
Reporter: On regime change, that question of if the President was supporting that idea of having Iran’s supreme leader assassinated, he’s now floating this idea of Regime change. Is that an idea that he would consider?
Leavitt: I’m not going to get ahead of the President. I just explained his Truth to you last night.
Reporter: Have there been any communications at all between U.S. officials and the Iranians, and has there been any indication that they are open to negotiating?
Leavitt: The Secretary of Defense said yesterday, there has been both public and private messages sent to the Iranians since the very successful operation on Saturday night, and that remains the truth.
Reporter: If Iran shuts down the Strait of Hormuz, is there a plan by the U.S. to add oil to the global market? We saw the Biden Administration and the strategic petroleum reserves. Is there a plan?
Leavitt: I can assure you the Administration is actively and closely monitoring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iranian regime would be foolish to make that decision.
