Does Trump even know what’s happening in Iran?

On Saturday, President Donald Trump claimed it was Tehran that struck an Iranian elementary school early in the war, killing scores of children.

“On Saturday, President Donald Trump claimed it was Tehran that struck an Iranian elementary school early in the war, killing scores of children”

CNN

On Monday, he admitted he basically had no idea what he was talking about when he said that, then went on to suggest other countries, including Iran, use Tomahawk missiles, the type of munition that appears to have hit the school.

CNN

Iran does not have Tomahawks.

When pressed at a news conference why nobody else in his administration was making the same claim about Iran being responsible (and instead pointing to an investigation), Trump said, “Because I just don’t know enough about it.”

He added that he would respect the findings of the investigation.

The article notes that the strike had become a huge international story and that CNN and expert analysis of evidence found the US military was likely responsible.

New video has emerged that appears to show a US missile targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base adjacent to the school.

CNN

The possibility that the US was culpable prompted concern that the incident could do real damage to the war effort even among some Republicans.

At the same news conference, Trump also claimed that Iran’s Gulf neighbors had joined the war effort against Tehran alongside the United States and Israel, saying their neighbors “came onto our side and started attacking them.”

“On Saturday, President Donald Trump claimed it was Tehran that struck an Iranian elementary school early in the war, killing scores of children”

CNN

The article says this does not reflect reality and provides country-by-country rebuttals: the UAE has come under the most fire from Iran but has not struck Iran and appears to be trying to exert pressure in other ways;

Saudi Arabia has threatened retaliation if Iran keeps attacking but has not joined the war;

and Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said, “Qatar has not been part of the campaign targeting Iran,” while Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told Sky News, “We continue to seek de-escalation.”

Senator Lindsey Graham criticized Gulf responses on Fox News, asking rhetorically, “Do you not have an obligation to join the fight with us?” and calling the UAE’s decision “so disappointing.”

The article highlights other examples of Trump appearing disconnected from facts on the war: he wagered that the slowdown in the Strait of Hormuz “doesn’t really affect us” because the US now produces so much oil of its own, a claim the article counters by noting the global economy’s interconnectedness and that the US has felt effects, especially on oil prices.

It also says Trump has repeatedly claimed Iran would soon be able to hit the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile, was planning to preemptively strike the United States, and was planning to take over the whole Middle East — claims the article says are not backed up by known intelligence and that Trump is among the few making them.

CNN

The piece concludes that Trump often seems to be residing in an elaborately crafted alternate reality, and that appearing so disconnected while waging war in a highly combustible region is striking, with no signs his decisions will be grounded in reality any time soon.