US President Donald Trump has defended the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, saying he ordered the strike to prevent further attacks on American forces.
According to a video posted by Fox News on Monday, July 13, 2026, Trump made the remarks during a press conference after signing proclamations reducing the size of two national monuments in Utah before taking questions on Iran.
Trump described Soleimani as a dangerous military commander who was planning attacks on US military installations in Iraq and Iran.
“That was done by Soleimani. He was a person that was very evil. He was an evil genius. He was looking to take out a lot of our military installations in Iraq and Iran. And I got him before he got us,” Trump said.
The President argued that the strike carried out during his first term prevented additional attacks on US personnel and formed part of a broader strategy of responding decisively to security threats before they escalate.
Trump also linked Soleimani’s death to his administration’s current approach toward Iran, accusing the country of causing harm to American troops and its own citizens over several decades. He again referenced the reported deaths of 52,000 Iranian protesters, claiming the Iranian government had shown no restraint toward its own people.
He said the same strategy of taking early action against perceived threats now guides the current military operations targeting Iran’s remaining military infrastructure.
