Trump’s Truth Social post about ‘killing’ Iranian factions just handed Iran the perfect propaganda win
War of words.
President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post quoting a Fox News contributor calling for the killing of Iranian factions opposed to a peace deal has backfired spectacularly, giving Iran exactly the kind of propaganda ammunition it needs. Within hours, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson was on X calling the U.S. a “promoter of terrorism,” and the fallout is still unfolding.
The whole mess started when Trump shared a post from Marc Thiessen, who said, “If there are two factions in Iran, one that wants a deal and one that doesn’t, let’s kill the ones who don’t want a deal.” It was a shocking statement, and Trump’s decision to amplify it on his platform immediately handed Iran’s government a golden opportunity to paint the U.S. as a violent, hypocritical actor on the world stage.
According to The Hill, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, didn’t hold back in his response. On X, he wrote that the U.S., which “once presented itself as a cradle of democracy, freedom, and human values, now appears to become a promoter of terrorism, murder, and mass violence.” He didn’t even name Thiessen directly, referring to him only as “an individual.”
This isn’t just empty rhetoric, either
Iran’s government has been quick to leverage Trump’s post to rally domestic support and justify its own hardline stance. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, posted on X that in Iran, “there are no radicals or moderates.” Instead, he framed the country as united under the banner of “one God, one leader, one nation, and one path,” with the goal of making “the aggressor criminal regret his actions.”
It’s the kind of language that plays well with Iran’s base, reinforcing the idea that the U.S. is an enemy that must be resisted at all costs. Qalibaf’s post didn’t stop there, either. He doubled down on the idea that Iran is prepared to escalate if the U.S. doesn’t back down.
The timing of all this couldn’t be worse for the U.S., especially since Trump had just extended a ceasefire agreement with Iran to allow negotiators to submit a peace plan. The extension was supposed to be a diplomatic olive branch, but Trump’s Truth Social post has turned it into a liability. It’s unclear whether Iran will even agree to meet with the U.S. delegation for a second round of talks, though Trump suggested they could happen as soon as Friday.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Qalibaf, who participated in the first round of negotiations, won’t be taking part in the second round. The outlet cited an unnamed source who claimed Qalibaf stepped down due to interference from IRGC generals, though neither Qalibaf nor the Iranian government confirmed this. If true, it’s a sign that Iran’s hardliners are gaining the upper hand, and Trump’s post only strengthens their position.
Qalibaf’s absence from the negotiations isn’t the only red flag. A few days ago, he accused Trump of violating the ceasefire deal by imposing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. His post on X was direct: “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”
Trump’s post has given Iran’s government exactly what it needs to justify its own hardline policies
By amplifying a call for violence, Trump handed Iran a propaganda win that it can use to discredit the U.S. and rally its own population. Baqaei’s accusation that the U.S. is now a “promoter of terrorism” is the kind narrative that plays into the hands of the IRGC and other hardliners who oppose any kind of diplomatic engagement with the U.S. If the goal was to undermine the peace process, Trump’s post couldn’t have been more effective.
The fallout from this isn’t just limited to Iran’s government, either. The post has also given Iran’s state media and propaganda outlets plenty of material to work with. They can now frame the U.S. as a country that preaches democracy and human rights while simultaneously calling for the killing of political opponents. It’s a contradiction that Iran’s government will exploit to the fullest, and it’s one that will be hard for the U.S. to counter.
The ceasefire extension was supposed to be a step toward de-escalation, but Trump’s Truth Social post has turned it into a liability. The U.S. now finds itself on the defensive, needing to explain why a call for violence doesn’t reflect its official policy. It’s a classic case of another single social media post from Trump having outsized consequences.
(Featured image: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit photographer)
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