After US President Donald Trump announced that American forces have launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, "World War 3," "Death to America," and "President Obama" began to trend across X. The strikes, which Trump declared "very successful," mark a significant escalation, igniting intense debate and a wave of strong reactions across social media platforms.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that US forces had conducted direct strikes on Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities, stating that "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow." He added that all planes were safely out of Iranian airspace and urged, "NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!" This aggressive move by the US follows over a week of sustained Israeli strikes targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and air defence systems.
Trump's statement, delivered from the Oval Office, warned Iran of "either peace or tragedy" and threatened "far greater" future attacks if Tehran does not comply. He underscored that "many targets left" remained for US forces. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency has admitted attacks on the country's nuclear sites, further confirming the volatile situation.
Social media reacts: 'World War 3' fears and political blame
The news sent immediate shockwaves through X, with "World War 3" quickly becoming a top trend. Users expressed alarm and frustration, with some directly blaming Trump for the escalation. Kellen (@Krush59) wrote, "So it looks like World War 3 is starting now? So much for the 'no new wars' promise from Trump." Rajarao Pagidipalli (@pagidipalli) echoed this, stating, "Donald Trump may have just lit the fuse for World War III — war can never be the path to peace." Others, like Red Pill Media (@RedPillMediaX), cast blame more broadly: "Everyone who voted for Trump is responsible for World War 3. Congratulations on being stupid."
A 2023 video doing the rounds on the internet also shows Trump saying that the world was very close to World War 3 and he was the only person who could stop it.
'Death to America' chants and fact-checks
Amidst the heightened tensions, visuals and posts claiming to show Iranian MPs chanting "Death to America" in parliament went viral. X user Jaimee Michell (@thegaywhostrayd) commented, "The entire Islamic Republic of Iran’s parliament chanted 'Death to America,' just like they’ve done for the past 46 years." Nineteen-year-old political commentator Brilyn Hollyhand (@BrilynHollyhand), argued, "When a nation chants 'Death to America' while building a nuke, you don’t sit on your hands and let them trample us."
Amid claims that the incident happened recently, news reports and fact-checks quickly clarified that this viral video was from 2018. It depicted Iranian lawmakers burning a US flag and chanting slogans following Trump's decision on May 8, 2018 to pull the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal signed during Barack Obama's presidency. This crucial context indicates the video is not related to the present conflict.
Obama's legacy and nuclear deal payments resurface
The unfolding events also brought "President Obama" into the trending topics, as X users revisited his administration's dealings with Iran. Some posts, like one from Nick Sortor (@nicksortor), opined that the former US president "funded Iran’s weapons program" by transferring financial aid. This refers to the August 2016 revelation that the Obama administration secretly arranged a plane delivery of $400 million in cash to Iran on the same day four American prisoners were released and the nuclear deal was formally implemented. US officials confirmed this was the first instalment of a $1.7 billion settlement resolving claims at an international tribunal, CNN reported.
Conversely, other users defended Obama's approach. Bryan Behar (@bryanbehar) tweeted, "I’m no fan of the Iranian nuclear programme. Which is why President Obama signed a treaty with Iran to dismantle it. The only reason Iran is enriching uranium is because Trump tossed out the Obama-Iran treaty... This was all preventable." The debate underscored the deep partisan divisions surrounding US foreign policy with Iran and the legacy of both presidential administrations.
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