Trump says leakers should face firing squad over Iran strike reports
Donald Trump said “leakers should be shot” during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, while discussing the run-up to US strikes on Iran. His remarks came as he defended the decision to go to war, which has pushed up petrol prices and could affect Republican prospects in the midterm elections.
Trump appeared to refer to reports that B-2 bombers had left Missouri before the June 2025 strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, saying the leak forced him to delay the raid by two days. He criticised the press, argued Iran must be stopped from obtaining a nuclear weapon and said he had expected petrol prices to rise, though not as much as they did. He also repeated false claims about fraud in Arizona’s 2022 election.
- Trump said leakers should be shot at an Arizona campaign rally.
- He linked the remarks to reports about B-2 bombers before Iran strikes.
- He defended the war despite rising petrol prices and midterm concerns.
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The United States and Iran have been rivals for decades, with disputes over regional influence and Iran’s nuclear programme. The US says it wants to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon; Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes.
In June 2025, US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites. Reports that B-2 bombers had departed from Missouri before the strikes raised questions about whether details of the operation had been disclosed in advance. A leak is the unauthorised release of information, and the US government can investigate who shared it.
The strikes and the wider conflict have affected fuel prices, which can influence household costs and voters’ views of the government. Republicans, Trump’s party, face midterm elections that determine control of Congress.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those who support punishing the leakers could argue that disclosing operational details during a military build-up may put service members at risk, compromise surprise and weaken national security. They may say that serious, deliberate leaks should face strong penalties, provided responsibility is established through lawful investigation and due process.
The case against
Those who oppose such punishment could argue that the press and public need to scrutinise decisions to go to war, especially when the costs include lives, higher prices and electoral consequences. They may contend that treating disclosure as a firing-squad offence threatens press freedom and risks deterring whistleblowers who expose misconduct, while any prosecution should be proportionate and subject to independent legal safeguards.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Trump unleashes chilling ‘leakers should be shot’ call in rambling tirade about run-up to Iran strikes”.