President Donald Trump has reignited speculation about U.S. intentions in Iran following his latest Truth Social post in which he appeared to endorse regime change, just days after ordering strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’” Trump wrote on Sunday. “But if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” He concluded the post with a reworked slogan: “MIGA!!!” — a nod to his “Make America Great Again” mantra.
The provocative remarks came as members of Trump’s own administration continued to insist that toppling the Iranian government is not the objective of recent military action. “This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Sunday press conference. He described the operation as a “precision” effort to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities and protect U.S. troops and allies in the region.
Vice President J.D. Vance also downplayed regime change concerns in multiple media appearances. “We do not want to protract this or build this out any more than it’s already been built out,” Vance said on NBC’s Meet the Press, framing the strike as targeting Iran’s nuclear program—not the state itself.
Despite that message, the president’s public statements have sowed confusion about the administration’s end goals. Just last week, Trump posted about Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being an “easy target,” though he claimed the U.S. would spare him “for now.”
Tensions remain high as Iran promises retaliation for the strikes, which came just weeks after a failed round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. and Israel of “blowing up diplomacy,” while warning that continued aggression would draw consequences.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s approach, saying on Fox News that while he personally disapproves of the regime, “We’re not into the regime change business here. We’re into the safety and security of the United States business.”
Rubio added that if Iran pursues nuclear weapons, it would “put the regime at risk,” suggesting serious consequences could follow. “I think it would be the end of the regime if they tried to do that,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei, now 86, is reportedly taking refuge in a secure underground facility and has identified potential successors, according to The New York Times.
With threats escalating on both sides, Trump has issued a stark warning: “ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT.”
As calls for de-escalation grow internationally, uncertainty remains over whether U.S. policy is focused solely on deterrence—or a more dramatic reshaping of the Iranian regime itself.
