Vance Says Trump Kharg Island Post Was Warning to Iran

Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that President Donald Trump's social media post depicting Iran's Kharg Island being destroyed was intended as a warning to Tehran, following a recent exchange of military strikes between the two nations. The comments came after Trump shared an AI-generated video on his Truth Social account on Sunday night showing missiles striking the strategic island, accompanied by the text "Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!"

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Monday, Vance explained the post's purpose. "I think that he's sending a message to the Iranians," Vance said. He stated the message was that Iran must cease attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "You guys are shooting at commercial shipping. You guys are behaving like a terrorist country. You've got to stop or there are going to be some consequences," Vance said, summarizing the intended warning. He added that Trump "likes to switch it up on social media a little bit" but would be the first to say he does not make formal military announcements on such platforms.

A U.S. official confirmed on Monday that the American military had not targeted Kharg Island in...