Trump's old tweets come back to haunt him after launching attack on Iran - The Chronicle

President Donald Trump’s past came back to haunt him Saturday after announcing a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran.

Social media users said Trump’s latest action against Iran was hypocritical after the president’s past tweets about former President Barack Obama resurfaced on social media platform X. Before Trump ran for office in 2016, he was highly critical of Obama, especially his stance on Iran.

At least two of Trump’s past tweets during Obama’s administration have gone viral again.

“Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate,” Trump wrote in an October 2012 tweet.

“Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!” Trump wrote in a November 2013 tweet.

Other critics pointed out past statements from Trump’s 2024 campaign that claimed his opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, would start a war in the Middle East. Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed that he would not start any new wars.

“KAMALA WILL SEND YOUR SONS TO WAR,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in October 2024.

“To anyone still gullible enough to fall for scummy media hoaxes: Trump said warmongering neocons love sending your kids to die for wars they would never fight themselves. Liz Cheney is Kamala’s top advisor. Liz wants to invade the whole Middle East. Kamala = WWIII. Trump = Peace,” Miller wrote in a November 2024 post.

Trump was immediately ridiculed for walking back a promise to not start new wars and for his past statements on Obama. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) also highlighted Trump’s 2012 tweet on Obama, writing: “Hypocrisy is real.”

Some Republicans denounced Trump’s action on Iran, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

“I am opposed to this War. This is not ‘America First.’ When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran. The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war,” Massie wrote on X.

“I did not campaign for this. I did not donate money for this. I did not vote for this, in elections or Congress. This is heartbreaking and tragic. And how many more innocent will die? What about our own military?” Greene posted on X.

“This is not what we thought MAGA was supposed to be. Shame!” she added.

Trump also faced criticism over his video message about Saturday’s attack on Iran, in which he admitted that the “lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties.”

“That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission,” the president said in his video message. “We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran.”

Democrats, including New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim, blasted Trump for admitting the U.S. went to war without congressional approval.

“President Trump fully acknowledging that this is a ‘war’ and that American lives ‘may be lost.’ All done against our Constitution, against the will of the American people, and without Congress’ approval,” Kim wrote on X.

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