President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a blunt warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that the United States knows “exactly where” he is hiding and demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as hostilities between Israel and Iran stretch into a sixth day.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump posted on social media. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
The stark message followed Trump’s early departure from the G7 summit in Canada, cutting his trip short to return to Washington for emergency national security meetings. Trump has increasingly taken center stage in the Israel-Iran confrontation, claiming that the U.S. holds air superiority over Tehran and signaling a shift toward potential military escalation.
Trump’s demand for Iran’s surrender came just hours after rejecting an Israeli proposal to assassinate Khamenei, according to a U.S. official familiar with the classified discussions. Israeli intelligence had presented the Trump administration with a “credible plan” to kill the Iranian leader, but the president ultimately opposed the strike, citing concerns over igniting broader regional chaos.
The Israeli military campaign, now entering its second week, has inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Yet, Trump is facing pressure from within his own administration to greenlight deeper U.S. involvement, including the possible transfer of bunker-busting munitions to Israeli forces. These weapons would be necessary to target deeply buried sites like Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which has so far evaded Israeli strikes.
As missiles continue to fly, Trump said he’s no longer in the mood to negotiate. “They should have done the deal,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I told them, ‘Do the deal.’ I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
Trump also appeared to disregard U.S. intelligence assessments stating Iran is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons. Asked about congressional testimony from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in March, Trump responded: “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.”
Gabbard later issued a statement saying the president’s remarks were not inconsistent with her own testimony and accused the media of twisting her words.
Trump’s hawkish rhetoric has triggered a rift among his MAGA base. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and several Trump-aligned lawmakers have warned against deeper American involvement, citing Trump’s own 2016 campaign pledge to end costly foreign wars.
In a fiery response, Trump wrote, “Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, ‘IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!’”
Others in Trump’s orbit, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, are urging the president to seize the moment. “This is your time to strike Iran’s nuclear program decisively,” Graham said.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan resolution introduced by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Tuesday demanded Trump seek Congressional authorization before committing U.S. forces to action against Iran.
Vice President JD Vance, who may be dispatched as an envoy for potential talks, pushed back against rumors on social media, reaffirming the administration’s message: “This ends one of two ways – the easy way, or the ‘other’ way.”
The State Department has activated a task force to assist Americans in the Middle East, including the estimated 700,000 U.S. citizens in Israel and several thousand in neighboring countries, although no formal evacuation orders have been issued.
Trump earlier used social media to urge Tehran’s residents to evacuate, raising alarm and speculation over an imminent strike. When asked about the post, Trump said, “I just want people to be safe.”
Although diplomatic options remain on the table, Trump said he is weighing the potential deployment of Vice President Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to broker a ceasefire. But his comments on Tuesday made clear that patience with Iran is fading quickly.
“This is a pivotal moment,” a senior White House official said. “The president believes we are approaching a historic opportunity to reshape the balance of power in the region.”
