Trump claims mystery ex-president backed his war on Iran but no one is owning up

Trump claims mystery ex-president backed his war on Iran but no one is owning upTrump said his presidential pal told him, ‘I wish I did it.’ But all four living ex-presidents said they had not been in touch2-MIN READ2-MIN3 ListenPublished: 10:15pm, 17 Mar 2026Twice on Monday, US President Donald Trump said he had wrangled a confession of sorts from an Oval Office predecessor who he said had expressed regret in a private conversation about not attacking Iran the way Trump has been doing for more than two weeks.But there’s just a little problem: representatives for the four living former presidents – three Democrats and one Republican – said none had been in touch with Trump recently.Trump declined to name the former president when reporters asked who it was, saying he didn’t want to “embarrass him”.The Republican president first told the story during extended remarks about the Iran war as he opened a meeting of the board of trustees of the Kennedy Centre. Trump is chairman of the board and held the meeting at the White House.US President Donald Trump (left) jokes with Vice-President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday. Photo: ReutersHe repeated that Iran had been a threat to the United States for decades but said he is the only president who had the courage to do something about it.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x