'Killing terrorists is good for America,' Leavitt says of Operation Epic Fury

WASHINGTON (TNND) — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran, saying the administration has shown a decisive stance against threats to American security at a time of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Leavitt, who is set to speak more about the topic during a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon, said Trump is "correcting decades of cowardice" in U.S. foreign policy and vowed that threats against the U.S. would end under his leadership.

"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has actively and intentionally facilitated the killing of Americans while chanting 'death to America' and funding other bloodthirsty terrorists seeking to destroy the United States and all of Western Civilization," Leavitt previously wrote on X.

"Prior American leaders were too weak and cowardly to do anything about it. Now, President Donald J. Trump is correcting decades of cowardice and holding those responsible for the deaths of Americans accountable," she added. "Their brutal attacks and threats will finally end under President Trump. America will win -- the terrorists will be defeated."

Her remarks come amid "Operation Epic Fury," a campaign targeting Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership following escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Leavitt framed the operation as a necessary response to what she described as years of Iranian-backed attacks against U.S. personnel and interests. The White House has argued that prior diplomatic efforts failed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional proxy activities.

"Killing terrorists is good for America," she wrote, noting that[49 of the most senior Iranian regime leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed]in the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury.

Leavitt said Trump's objectives are clear, noting that he has the following goals:

• Destroy the Iranian regime’s missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground
• Annihilate the Iranian regime’s Navy
• Ensure the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces
• Stop them from making and using IEDs or roadside bombs, which she said have "gravely wounded and killed thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans."
• Guarantee that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon

"Preventing this radical regime and its terrorist leaders from threatening America and our core national security interests is a clear-eyed and necessary objective," she said.

Her words underscore the administration’s broader messaging that the military campaign is intended to deter further aggression and protect U.S. national security interests.

Leavitt added that Operation Midnight Hammer -- a separate attack on Iran that Trump launched in June -- obliterated Iran’s major nuclear sites. But, she said, Iranian the regime was "fully committed to rebuilding their nuclear program" and refused to make a deal despite months of extensive talks and good faith efforts by Trump’s top negotiators.

"Simply put, the terrorist Iranian regime would not say yes to peace," Leavitt said.

Critics in Congress have raised concerns about the scope of the operation and whether additional congressional authorization is required. Supporters, meanwhile, said the strikes demonstrate renewed American resolve.

Six U.S. service members were killed during Operation Epic Fury, according to the Pentagon. Four of them were Army Reserve soldiers, who died after a drone hit a command center on Sunday in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.