The White House defends US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric threatening to “destroy” Iranian “civilization,” claiming that it is what brought Iran to the table yesterday.
“I understand the questions about the president’s rhetoric, but what the president cares most about is results, and in fact, his very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today,” Leavitt claims during a press briefing.
Leavitt is then asked whether the world should take Trump seriously, given that he has four times pushed off deadlines that were previously said to be final.
“The world should take his word very seriously… It was the Iranians who backed out, not President Trump,” she responds.
“He said that they would face very grave consequences… if they did not agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and what did they do last night? They agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”
The White House has denied reporting suggesting otherwise.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
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