“They Didn’t Die of the Flu”: Trump’s Chilling Sarcasm on Iran Strike Stuns CNN’s Dana Bash and Sends Shockwaves Through Global Diplomacy

It was meant to be cutting. It ended up chilling. A smirk, a sentence—and suddenly one interview left anchors speechless and allies scrambling

Dana Bash© CNN

Donald Trump made several sarcastic jokes about Iran’s slain military leaders in a conversation with CNN’s Dana Bash Friday, even as he remained in negotiations with Iran over a nuclear deal. He also told Fox News host Bret Baier Thursday evening that he knew about the pending Israeli strikes before they happened, but did not intervene to stop them.

Over 200 Israeli jets participated in air strikes on at least 100 targets in Iran on Friday, including the crucial Natanz nuclear site and ballistic missile sites. Iran’s commander in chief of the military, Mohammad Bagheri, was killed in the Israeli military strikes, along with General Hossein Salami, General Gholamali Rashid and General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

“You know, the people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners,” Trump reportedly told Bash, referring to Iran’s leaders that had been advocating against a nuclear deal with the US. When she asked if their deaths were the result of Israel’s attack, Trump replied sarcastically, “They didn’t die of the flu – they didn’t die of Covid.”

Dana Bash reported that Donald Trump’s tone was© CNN

Trump took to social media to repeat calls for negotiations, urging Iranians to “come to the table to make a deal before it’s too late.” He wrote that he had previously given Iran a 60-day ultimatum to make a deal, but it had refused.

“They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!” he wrote, implying it was Iran’s fault that its country was bombed by Israel.

“Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue strikes for “as many days as it takes” to decimate Iran’s nuclear program. The White House claimed no involvement in the strikes, but Trump said that Israel had used weaponry provided by the US to target Iran’s enrichment facility in Natanz and ballistic missile program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled that the US would be held responsible for any future Israeli attacks.

Trump warned that such attacks would be “even more brutal,” even as his special envoy Steve Witkoff continued to engage in negotiations over Tehran’s expanding nuclear program.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We’ll hopefully get back to the negotiating table,” Trump said. “There are several people in leadership in Iran who will not be coming back.”