Trump warns "a whole civilization will die tonight" in chilling Truth Social post as Iran deadline expires
President Donald Trump posted a stark warning on Truth Social on April 7, declaring that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" as his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz ticks down to zero.
The post is one of the most ominous statements Trump has made since the war began 38 days ago. While the President added that he doesn't want it to happen, he made clear that he believes "it probably will."
Trump signals the end of Iran's Islamic Republic
The "civilization" Trump appears to be referring to is Iran's Islamic Republic. In the same post, Trump referenced "47 years of extortion, corruption, and death" and claimed that "Complete and Total Regime Change" has already taken place, with "different, smarter, and less radicalized minds" now in charge.
He's positioning tonight as the moment an entire governing system ceases to exist, calling it "one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World."
He ended the post with "God Bless the Great People of Iran!".
What could "tonight" actually look like?
Trump has set an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating strikes on the country's power plants and bridges. Over the weekend, he dubbed the looming attack "Power Plant Day and Bridge Day" in an expletive-laden post that told Iran's leaders to "Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell."
At a White House press conference on Monday, Trump doubled down, describing Iran's power plants as "burning and exploding, never to be used again" if no deal is reached. He also said he was "highly unlikely" to extend the deadline, adding bluntly: "They've had plenty of time."
Iran's deputy youth minister responded by calling on young Iranians to form a "human chain" around the country's power plants, calling any strike on civilian infrastructure a war crime. The IRGC also issued a statement vowing that any further attacks would be met with retaliation "far more forcefully and on a much wider scale."