Trump: ‘America did not start the war with Iran’

Trump on Iran: ‘I want you to remember something very important. America did not start the war with Iran.’

Analysis: This statement is a striking example of historical revisionism and inconsistency. The war with Iran began in June 2025, when President Trump ordered a series of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities following the collapse of diplomatic negotiations. The strikes were a direct, unilateral act of military aggression initiated by the United States. Iran did not attack the US first; it was the Trump administration that chose to escalate the long-standing tensions into an open military conflict. The claim that ‘America did not start the war’ is contradicted by the documented timeline of events, which shows the US as the aggressor. This is not a matter of interpretation but of verifiable fact. The statement also conveniently ignores that the war has resulted in significant casualties, regional instability, and a humanitarian crisis. By claiming the US is not the aggressor, Trump seeks to absolve his administration of responsibility for the war’s devastating consequences. This is a classic example of a leader attempting to rewrite history to suit a political narrative, especially as the midterm elections approach and public opinion turns against the war.

Source: Axios, 31.10.2026