---
title: "Donald Trump said that the president will start a war with Iran because the president has absolutely no ability to negotiate"
claim_id: "zaCsfW42MsiCQzQ4WMMD"
validity: 15
model: accounts/fireworks/models/kimi-k2p6
---

# Claim: Donald Trump said that the president will start a war with Iran because the president has absolutely no ability to negotiate

Verdict: 15%
Model: Kimi K2.6
Checked on: 02/05/2026

## Verdict explanation

**Fact-Check Analysis:**

- Donald Trump did say these exact words in 2011, when he was a private citizen, not president[^1]
- However, Trump was referring to **President Barack Obama**, not himself or any other president[^1]
- The full quote context was: Trump accused Obama of being "weak and ineffective" and claimed "the only way he figures that he's going to get reelected... is to start a war with Iran"[^1]
- The quote resurfaced in January 2020 after Trump ordered the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, as critics pointed out the irony of Trump having made this statement about Obama[^1]
- Obama did not start a war with Iran and won reelection in 2012; the Iran nuclear agreement was signed in 2015[^1]

**Overall validity**: 15%

[^1]:
    [Video of Trump Warning 'Our President Will Start a War With Iran Because He Has Absolutely No Ability to Negotiate' Resurfaces | Common Dreams](https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/03/video-trump-warning-our-president-will-start-war-iran-because-he-has-absolutely-no)

## Sources using this claim (1)

- [Donald Trump with a message for Donald Trump: "Our president will start a war with Iran because he h…](/source/x:MarcoFoster_:2024315375656325244) — Unknown — 18 views