Trump's Statements Against the Islamic Republic: Accusations of Assassination, Fake News, and the Iranian Protest Crisis

Trump's aggressive statements against the Islamic Republic exposed false information and a stark contradiction to the facts.

In his latest controversial statements during a conversation with reporters, Donald Trump once again accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of severely suppressing nationwide protests and spreading fake information, and made claims that went beyond official media reports, which have drawn widespread international reactions.

In response to a question about the domestic protests, Trump said, “The Islamic Republic officials have issued statements that if you protest, you will be shot and killed.” He also emphasized, “The protesters do not have guns. It is very difficult for them to protest. I completely understand that.”

Continuing his remarks, he referred to the bloody events of the protests in January and claimed: “They killed at least 32,000 protesters. We think the number is much higher; people who were very enthusiastic and wanted to see change.” He reiterated with emphasis: “They shot and killed many more than 32,000 people.”

Trump's comments about the death toll from the protests have been met with mixed reactions. According to reports compiled from international sources, the number of victims of the 2025-2026 Iranian protests is estimated to be between a few thousand and more than 30,000, but accurate independent figures are still disputed and human rights organizations are calling for further investigation.

Trump also described the Islamic Republic as a "master of media manipulation and public relations" and said the regime was using artificial intelligence as a tool to spread disinformation, including claims about suicide boats and attacks on American aircraft carriers, which he called fake.

He said, "They showed fake suicide boats, it's all false information to show that their army is tough!"

In another part of his remarks, Trump referred to the news about the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" and said that the alleged news about the ship catching fire or being targeted were also fabricated.

Criticism of Trump's policies is not limited to the United States. The media, political pundits, and even some European allies have warned about his aggressive tone on the Iran issue. While he has called for international support for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz on other issues, some countries have refrained from participating broadly in this coalition and are emphasizing diplomatic solutions.

On the other hand, Trump's statements about the high death toll in Iranian protests and the role of the media have caused the media and officials of the Islamic Republic to react to these claims, calling them false or political.

The widespread protests in Iran, which began in late 2025 and were met with a severe security crackdown, have become one of the most significant political crises in the last decade. Reports collected show that the Iranian government has attempted to prevent the real dissemination of information through widespread internet shutdowns and a heavy presence of security forces, a situation that independent and international media have described as an “information blockade.”

In addition to criticizing the Islamic Republic, Trump has repeatedly called for a response from the international community and international institutions on the issue of the killing of protesters and respect for freedom of expression, although critics say that such comments, without a credible legal basis, may fuel regional complications.