Several reputable sources have reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of a change in leadership in Iran following U.S. military strikes

Several reputable sources have reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of a change in leadership in Iran following U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. These reports stem from Trump's statements and social media posts, which appeared to contradict earlier assertions by his administration that regime change was not the goal of the strikes. Below is a summary of the key reports from reputable sources:

• BBC News (June 23, 2025): Reported that Trump raised the possibility of a leadership change in Iran after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. This came after top U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stated that replacing the leadership in Tehran was not the aim. Former U.S. envoy Elliott Abrams suggested Trump might be "kidding around" with these comments.

• ABC News (June 22, 2025): Noted that Trump had been presented with a range of options by his national security team, including military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and mentioned his approval of attack plans while waiting to see if Iran would discuss ending its nuclear program. While this report does not directly cite regime change, it provides context for Trump's considerations regarding Iran.

• Hindustan Times (June 22, 2025): Reported that Trump called for a regime change in Iran via social media a day after U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites, despite his cabinet members emphasizing that the strikes were not aimed at regime change. The report also discussed potential successors to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, such as Alireza Arafi and Mojtaba Khamenei.

• Fox News (June 22, 2025): Stated that Trump sought diplomatic talks with Iranian leadership through Turkey before the strikes but received no response from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The report does not explicitly mention regime change but highlights Trump's frustration with Iran's leadership, which aligns with his later comments on the topic.

• CNN Politics (June 22, 2025): Reported that Trump’s suggestion of regime change followed the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear plants, noting that this was a shift from his administration’s stated position. The report highlighted the unpredictability of political outcomes in Iran and the unlikelihood of a more benign leadership emerging.

• AP News (June 22, 2025): Stated that Trump called into question the future of Iran’s ruling theocracy after the strikes, despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s assertion that the U.S. did not seek war or target Iranian people. This report underscores the contradiction between Trump’s statements and his administration’s position.

• The Independent (June 23, 2025): Noted that Trump entertained the idea of regime change in Tehran after claiming the U.S. strikes had neutralized Iran’s nuclear capabilities, further escalating tensions.

• Yahoo News (June 22, 2025): Reported that Trump’s social media post suggesting regime change contradicted statements from Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who insisted the strikes were not about toppling Iran’s government.

• POLITICO (June 22, 2025): Highlighted Trump’s willingness to consider regime change, which stoked divisions within the Republican Party. Senator Lindsey Graham supported the idea, while others, like Hegseth, reiterated that regime change was not the goal.

• PBS News (June 22, 2025): Reported that Trump’s suggestion of regime change contradicted his administration’s calls for negotiations and de-escalation, creating uncertainty about U.S. policy toward Iran.

• The Guardian (June 23, 2025): Stated that Trump raised the prospect of regime change in Tehran, questioning if it could “make Iran great again,” amid intensified attacks between Iran and Israel following U.S. strikes.

These reports collectively indicate that Trump publicly floated the idea of regime change in Iran, primarily through a social media post, despite his administration’s earlier statements that the U.S. strikes were aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program, not toppling its leadership. The sources suggest this rhetoric caused confusion and contradicted the positions of key administration figures like Hegseth, Vance, and Rubio.

However, it’s worth noting that some sources, such as the Economic Times (June 22, 2025), reported internal Iranian discussions about potentially removing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, involving political, military, and clerical figures, but these were not directly linked to Trump’s actions beyond the context of the U.S. and Israeli strikes. Additionally, a post on X from Reuters (June 22, 2025) mentioned Trump raising the question of regime change, aligning with the web reports.

No reports from these sources confirm that Trump was actively planning or ordering a regime change operation, only that he publicly speculated about it, often in contrast to his administration’s stated goals. Always consider that such statements from political figures can serve as posturing or misdirection, as suggested by Abrams’ comment about Trump possibly “kidding around.”