While speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt snapped at questions about conflicting messages on Iran.
Journalists pressed her on the June strike, “Operation Midnight Hammer,” targeting Iran’s nuclear sites. The president has repeatedly called it a decisive blow, claiming it “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
Leavitt brushed aside comments from Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who noted that Iran was still “probably a week away” from producing bomb-grade material. His statement cast doubt on whether the June strike had been as devastating as the president portrayed.
Leavitt held firm to Trump’s narrative, defending the operation while turning on the media. “I’ve seen a lot of sensationalist reporting over the past day that is just completely untrue,” she said.
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She also slammed anonymous sourcing, warning reporters, “anyone pretending to know what President Trump is thinking or a decision he will make… has no idea what they’re talking about!”
Leavitt called the strike “overwhelmingly successful” and said it had been verified not just by the president but also by the International Atomic Energy Commission.
Trump had already addressed the issue on Truth Social, dismissing reports about Gen. Daniel Caine expressing doubts as “100 percent incorrect.” He claimed the media spread false stories on purpose and insisted he alone would decide any future military action.
Diplomacy remains Trump’s first option, Leavitt said. But she paired that with a warning: the president is prepared to use “the lethal force of the United States military if necessary.”
“That does not mean Iran may never try again to establish a nuclear program,” she added, keeping the threat alive despite claims of victory.
Karoline Leavitt Shuts Down Iran Leaks From Anonymous Sources
“I’ve seen a lot of sensationalist reporting… that is completely untrue. And anyone speculating to the media, hiding behind an anonymous source … has no idea what they’re talking about.” https://t.co/tmyjqaRnBI pic.twitter.com/j8tSGSFA8U
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) February 24, 2026
The administration is also signaling a stronger US presence in the region. Troop levels are at their highest near Iran since the Iraq War, fueling speculation about potential escalation.
Satellite imagery and flight data reviewed by The Washington Post show the US has shifted more than 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East since nuclear talks with Iran broke down in mid‑February.
Aircraft carriers, fighter jets, tankers, early warning planes and support aircraft make up this force, a concentration of military power near Iran that had not been seen since before the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Featured image via X screengrab
