President Donald Trump's latest "red line" threat to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday drew fresh outrage from political analysts and observers.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. was not aware of Israel's recent bombing strikes against the South Pars gas field, which is Iran's largest energy source. Multiple reports indicate that the U.S. and its ally in the region, Qatar, were aware of the plan and approved it ahead of time.
Nevertheless, Trump told the Israelis that there will be "no more attacks" in Iran without his approval.
"NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before," Trump's post reads in part.
Political analysts and observers shared their reactions on social media.
"Would be hard to draft a more comprehensively deranged and appallingly dystopian presidential communiqué," Philip Gourevich, a staff writer at The New Yorker, posted on Bluesky.
"This is a sign of being utterly terrified of the recession-level impacts Iran can bring to bear," podcaster Amar Kazzmi posted on X.
"One has to wonder whether he’s posting this because the Qataris are furious," journalist Yashar Ali posted on X.
"How long before Trump blames the entire war on Israel?" journalist David Corn posted on Bluesky.
"Contrary to what Trump says below, there is a lot of reporting in Israel & the U.S. that Trump approved the Israeli attack on the Pars oil field," Washington Post columnist Max Boot posted on Bluesky. "But when Iran struck back, Trump refused to take responsibility."
