Trump Claims Former President Confessed Iran Regret, Aides Deny

White House says Trump discussed Iran policy with predecessor, but no such confession occurred.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:20am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he had a private conversation with a former president who expressed regret for not attacking Iran, but representatives for Trump's predecessors have denied any recent contact with the current president.

Why it matters

Trump's claims about a former president's supposed confession regarding Iran policy raises questions about the current administration's approach to foreign relations and transparency around high-level discussions.

The details

According to Trump, he spoke with a former president who said they regretted not attacking Iran in the past, though Trump declined to name the individual. However, representatives for former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton have all denied any recent contact with Trump about Iran or other policy matters.

  • On Monday, March 17, 2026, President Trump made the claims about a former president's Iran confession.

The players

President Donald Trump

The current President of the United States.

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, serving from 2009 to 2017.

George W. Bush

The 43rd President of the United States, serving from 2001 to 2009.

Bill Clinton

The 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I can't tell you that. I don't want to embarrass him. It would be very bad for his career, even though he's got no career.”

— President Donald Trump

The takeaway

Trump's unsubstantiated claims about a former president's supposed confession raise concerns about the administration's approach to foreign policy and transparency, especially given the denials from representatives of his predecessors.