‘They Don’t Know What the Fk They’re Doing’: Trump Explodes Over Israel-Iran Ceasefire Breakdown
former President Donald Trump expressed searing frustration with both Israel and Iran following the apparent collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreement brokered less than 24 hours earlier. Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One en route to the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump vented anger, confusion, and disappointment over the rapidly unraveling situation in the Middle East.
The ceasefire, intended to halt escalating violence between Israel and Iran, was announced late last night after intense negotiations. But just hours later, missile sirens blared in northern Israel, and retaliatory airstrikes resumed. Trump placed blame on both sides, but directed the brunt of his fury toward Israel.
“I don’t think the fire broke the ceasefire — not intentionally,” Trump told reporters. “But I’m not happy that Israel is going out now. There was one rocket that I guess was fired overboard, after the time limit, and it didn’t land anywhere. And now Israel’s going. These guys have got to calm down. It’s ridiculous.”
Despite longstanding support for Israel during his presidency, Trump did not hold back. “I didn’t like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal. They didn’t have to unload,” he said, referring to what he described as an overwhelming Israeli air campaign following the agreement. “And I didn’t like the retaliation from Iran either. But let’s be fair — Israel unloaded a lot.”
What clearly agitated Trump the most was Israel’s military response to what he called a “stray rocket” that didn’t even hit its target. “That’s not what we want,” he said. “I’m telling you, I’m not happy about that. And all I do is play both sides. I’m trying to stop it. I’m going to make the calls as soon as I’m off with you.”
Then, in a moment that instantly made headlines, Trump unloaded one of his most memorable one-liners: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.” The statement stunned reporters and underscored his deep frustration.
CNN’s Elena Treene, who was on the South Lawn during the exchange, reported: “I’ve spent a lot of time with Donald Trump. This is one of the angriest I’ve ever seen him — visibly angry. He was furious with both Israel and Iran. But unusually, his tone toward Israel was far less forgiving.”
The president’s remarks followed reports that Israel launched major strikes on Tehran within minutes of the ceasefire being announced — though before it technically took effect. Iran responded by firing more than 20 missiles, some of which hit southern Israel and killed at least four people. The most recent reported violation involved two rockets intercepted by Israeli defense systems, which Israel claims were launched by Iran after the ceasefire window opened.
In Israel, CNN’s Jeremy Diamond reported that Israeli officials are insisting Iran violated the agreement first. “There’s no doubt Israeli officials feel justified in preparing a strong response,” Diamond said. “But Trump made it clear this morning — he’s not on board with that escalation.”
Meanwhile, in Tehran, Iranian officials flatly denied any post-ceasefire launches. CNN’s Fred Pleitgen reported from the Iranian capital that a senior official told him, “No missiles were fired after the ceasefire took effect.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry echoed the statement, warning that any further Israeli attacks would provoke a new wave of retaliation targeting “all of the occupied territories.”
While the streets of Tehran were reportedly calm, the city bore the scars of overnight airstrikes, with buildings damaged and anti-aircraft fire lighting up the night sky. Pleitgen confirmed that Israeli air activity was intense: “We heard planes overhead, explosions shaking buildings in central Tehran — it was a very long night here.”
As Trump boarded his flight to Europe, the ceasefire that had been announced with cautious optimism just hours earlier lay in tatters. The former president, who had just hours before celebrated the deal with aides, left behind a situation teetering on the edge of renewed war.
Whether Trump’s direct intervention by phone will lead to a de-escalation remains uncertain. But his message was unmistakable — and unfiltered. “They don’t know what the f**k they’re doing,” he said, summing up the chaos in the starkest terms possible.
