Which ex-president told Trump he wished he’d struck Iran?

TLDR:

• President Trump claims a former U.S. president privately told him he wished he had struck Iran
• Trump ruled out George W. Bush but dodged when asked if it was Bill Clinton
• Only four living ex-presidents exist, making the mystery easy to narrow down
• Trump said he didn’t want to reveal the name to avoid getting the person “into trouble”

A mystery is swirling around the Oval Office: Which former president secretly told Donald Trump he wished he’d launched military strikes against Iran?

Mr. Trump dropped the bombshell Monday during a question-and-answer session with reporters, saying a former president — someone who “happens to like me” — privately expressed regret for not striking Iran himself.

“That person said, ’I wish I did it,’” Mr. Trump said. “I don’t want to get him into trouble.”

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy pressed for answers, running through the short list of living ex-presidents.

“Was it George W. Bush?” Mr. Doocy asked.

“No,” Mr. Trump said.

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“Bill Clinton?” Mr. Doocy followed up.

“I don’t wanna say,” Mr. Trump replied.

That leaves Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden — neither of whom enjoys a warm relationship with Mr. Trump, who attacks both men frequently.

Mr. Trump launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, alongside Israel, aiming to dismantle Tehran’s missile program, halt its nuclear ambitions and cut off its support for terrorism. He has defended the decision bluntly: “You want to see the stock market go down? Start letting them hit you with nukes.”

“It’ll be soon, it won’t be long,” Mr. Trump said of the war’s end. “And we’re going to have a much safer world when it is wrapped up.”

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Read more:

• ’They said, I wish I did it’: Trump says a former president privately supported the Iran war

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