Trump Says US Is 'Totally Destroying' Iran's Regime and Slams NY Times for Saying US is Not Winning

President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to assert that the United States is 'totally destroying' Iran's regime, both militarily and economically.

In a post shared on Thursday, Trump claimed that Iran's military forces—including its navy, air force, missiles, and drones—have been significantly degraded.

The US president also criticised reporting by The New York Times, suggesting the newspaper presents an inaccurate picture of the situation. While the post reflects Trump's personal assessment of US actions, it does not cite independent verification of military outcomes.

Criticism of Media Coverage

Trump's post singled out The New York Times, calling it 'Failing' and claiming the paper downplays US military successes in Iran. By targeting the newspaper, he reinforced his own message that the US is achieving decisive results.

Trump did not point to a specific article, but outlets including The New York Times and The Financial Times have reported that the US campaign faces challenges. Reports mention heavy use of munitions, concerns about running low on supplies, and other strategic difficulties.

The New York Times and have documented that, even though the US and allied forces have struck Iranian targets, Iran's rate of retaliatory missile and drone launches has not completely stopped and is only slowing, not ended.

The Financial Times also reported thatthe US has already used through 'years' of munitions early in the conflict, raising questions about how long such operations can continue.

This coverage is very different from Trump's claims that the US is 'totally destroying' Iran's military and that its leaders have been 'wiped from the face of the earth.'

Claims of Military Superiority

In his message, Trump described US capabilities as unmatched, saying the country has 'unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time' to act.

He also stated that Iranian leaders have been 'wiped from the face of the earth,' emphasising what he presents as a thorough degradation of Iran's military and leadership.

While these assertions highlight Trump's view of US strength, there is currently no publicly available evidence from defence authorities or international observers to confirm the extent of the impact he describes.

His post also links the current confrontation to long-standing grievances, noting that Iran has allegedly been involved in the killing of civilians worldwide for decades. Trump framed his actions as a response to this history, claiming that he is addressing the issue as the 47th president of the United States.

Debunking Trump's Claim on Iranian Leaders

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's long‑time supreme leader, was killed in a major US and Israeli airstrike at the start of the current conflict. Iranian state media and international reporting have confirmed his death.

The initial strikes that killed Ali Khamenei also targeted multiple senior military and political figures, and some have been confirmed killed. This included high‑ranking commanders and intelligence officials.

After Khamenei's death, Iran's clerical leadership selected Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, as the new supreme leader.

No credible reports from reputable news organisations indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei has been killed. There has been uncertainty about his condition on whether he was injured. But both Iranian sources and international reporting suggest he remains alive and serving as supreme leader.

While some Iranian officials have reportedly been killed, the country's government is still functioning. Iran has been blocking ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas. As a result, commercial shipping has fallen sharply, with very few tankers able to pass at times due to Iran's threats and military actions.