Donald Trump initiated a war with Iran.
Said by Congresswoman Julie Johnson, Checked Updated
- Sources
- 3 contradict4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 90%
The Briefing with Jen PsakiOct 23, 2026
Multiple sources, including AP and Politico, report that Trump launched the February 28, 2026 war with Iran, and the Origins essay says Trump 'started a war with Iran in February 2026'.
What was said
… Uhm, you know, I can't afford to put gas in my car, and it is then that they are suddenly open to the idea: Hey, wait a minute, all he cares about are his ballroom, his reflecting pool. He doesn't care about me. He's not focused on me. And also, the two biggest things that are contributing to my higher costs are both decisions that he made. Very clearly, they were his decisions, not Congress. They weren't talked about with the American people or debated, and those are tariffs and the war with Iran. And voters know that Joe Biden didn't do that. They know that it was Donald Trump, and that's why they blame him, and it's why the corruption they've become open to really caring about it, because I'll tell you, normally, the thing about corruption is …
The Briefing with Jen Psaki · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Politico reports that Trump launched the war with Iran with an overnight joint military action on February 28, 2026, and that it was his decision after talks failed.[4]
Supports. The Ohio State Origins essay states that when President Trump started a war with Iran in February 2026, the US and Israel launched a major assault on February 28.[3]
Supports. NBC News reports Trump ordered the war in Iran without congressional approval, plunging America into a major conflict.[5]
Supports. AP notes that Trump likes to say he started his war with Iran after economic pressure failed, and describes it as his war.[1]
Contradicts. Trump has claimed at rallies that Iran started the war, and a Washington Examiner op-ed argues the conflict began in 1979; these are partisan or opinion characterizations that do not overturn the factual record that the US launched the February 2026 strikes.[6][7][8]
Context. FactCheck.org notes Trump himself has described the military action as war, while the Speaker called it a limited operation, a dispute over legal definitions rather than over who launched the strikes.[2]
Sources
8 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 1 primary, 2 tier 2, 3 not rated
- 1After talks with Iran fizzle, Trump turns back to sanctionsapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Is the U.S. at 'War'? Politicians Disagreefactcheck.org · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 3The Long Road to War with Iran | Originsorigins.osu.edu · primary source · cited for: supports
- 4Trump launches war with Iranpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5Trump, who campaigned against 'endless' wars, enters Iran ...nbcnews.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 6Desperate Trump tries to claim Iran started war as GOP midterm hopes fadethemirror.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 7Trump is not starting a war with Iran. He is finishing onewashingtonexaminer.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 8Trump says Iran ‘started the war’ with US | Iran Internationaliranintl.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
Where this claim was made
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