United States President Donald Trump denied that Israel persuaded him to launch a war against Iran, rejecting reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influenced his decision. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the October 7 attack by Hamas and his long-held belief that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon were the reasons behind the military action, while accusing news outlets of spreading 'fake news.'

The conflict began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched strikes aimed at weakening Iran's leadership and destroying its nuclear and missile capabilities. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region, including through allied groups in Iraq and Lebanon. A fragile ten-day ceasefire is set to expire soon unless ongoing talks mediated by Pakistan produce a longer truce.

Trump has faced criticism from Democrats, some Republicans, and prominent commentators who argue that he followed Israel's lead into the conflict. Reports have described a presentation by Netanyahu at the White House in which he predicted swift success, though some senior United States officials later dismissed those expectations. Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans oppose the war, with sharp divisions along party lines.