Trump Claims Kurds Kept Guns Meant for Iran Protesters

President says U.S. sent weapons to Kurds to aid Iranian protesters, but they never made it.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:23pm

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In a phone interview, President Donald Trump told Fox News that the U.S. had sent guns to the Kurds intended for Iranian protesters, but he believes the Kurds kept the weapons instead of passing them along. Trump's comments come as negotiations continue between Washington and Tehran to end the ongoing conflict.

Why it matters

Trump's remarks represent a rare admission from the U.S. government about arming rebel groups and uprisings against foreign regimes. The president has previously sought to distance the U.S. from Kurdish involvement in the Iran conflict, but these new comments suggest a more direct American role in supporting the protesters.

The details

According to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the U.S. had sent "a lot of guns" to the Kurds with the intention of getting them to Iranian protesters, but the president believes the Kurds kept the weapons instead. Trump's comments come as the U.S. and Iran remain far apart in negotiations to end the ongoing conflict, with the president threatening to target Iranian power and energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached.

  • Trump made the comments to Yingst in a phone interview on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Trey Yingst

Fox News chief foreign correspondent who spoke with Trump in the phone interview.

Hejar Berenji

A representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), who told Yingst that the Kurds did not receive any weapons during the protests in Iran.

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What they’re saying

“President Trump told me the United States sent guns to the Iranian protesters. He tells me: 'We sent them a lot of guns. We sent them through the Kurds,' and the president says he thinks the Kurds kept them.”

— Trey Yingst, Fox News chief foreign correspondent

“We did not receive any weapons during the time of the demonstrations in Iran.”

— Hejar Berenji, Representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI)

What’s next

The negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing, with the president threatening to target Iranian power and energy infrastructure if a deal is not reached by Tuesday, April 8th at 8 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

Trump's comments represent a rare acknowledgment of the U.S. government's involvement in arming rebel groups and uprisings against foreign regimes, raising questions about the extent of American support for the Iranian protesters and the potential consequences of such actions.