Donald Trump fired off a chest-thumping warning to Iran but managed to trip over his own words in the process.
The 79-year-old president posted a fiery Truth Social screed Saturday, threatening Tehran with imminent consequences as tensions escalate in the Persian Gulf amid frantic search operations for a U.S. service member whose jet was shot out of the sky.
The U.S. has been hit hard by Iran’s retaliatory closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint responsible for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply—sending gas prices soaring and rattling global markets.
With the closure now dragging on more than 30 days, Trump responded by blasting off a blunt ultimatum to the regime.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote. “Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”
The president signed off his threat with a flourish ahead of Easter Sunday—despite warnings from Pope Leo XIV, who used his Palm Sunday message to caution against leaders waging war and invoking Christianity to justify it.
“Glory be to GOD! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he concluded.
Trump’s attempt at a dramatic warning was undercut by a glaring typo, with “reign” used instead of “rain.”
The president’s latest warning follows an even more sweeping threat, in which he said the U.S. could “completely obliterate” Iran’s electric generating plants, oil wells, Kharg Island, and possibly all desalination plants—language that signals a potential shift toward targeting civilian infrastructure, which is generally prohibited under international law.
Trump has continued to ramp up his rhetoric as the conflict deepens, telling The Independent on Friday he is not yet prepared to say how the U.S. would respond if Iranian forces got ahold of the downed U.S. service member.
One crew member was rescued after Iran shot down the U.S. F-15 fighter jet on Friday. But Iranian officials have reportedly offered a $65,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the second U.S. service member.
The conflict is now approaching its sixth week.
Trump, who has repeatedly branded himself a “peace president,” has also downplayed the severity of the war even as casualties mount. He has claimed the conflict was “already won” in the first hour, despite the death toll climbing to 13 U.S. service members and more than 1,900 Iranians.
His latest threat comes as hopes for a diplomatic resolution appear to be collapsing.
Trump has also repeatedly suggested a deal was within reach, but negotiations have stalled. According to Wall Street Journal reporter Summer Said, Iranian officials have rejected talks with U.S. representatives in Islamabad, calling American demands “unacceptable.”
