Key Takeaway: President Trump said a 'certain' former president privately praised the administration's military action against Iran and claimed unnamed countries were moving to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. Reporting from AP, NBC and The New York Times found no recent contact between Trump and the living former presidents, and European officials have publicly expressed skepticism about intervening. The episode echoes a long‑running pattern of unverifiable "anonymous" endorsements.
Trump Says a 'Certain' Former President Praised Iran Strike — And Claims Unnamed Allies Are Heading To The Strait Of Hormuz
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House on March 16, 2026.(Aaron Schwartz / UPI / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Toward the end of remarks at a Kennedy Center board event on Monday, President Donald Trump said he had received private praise from "a certain" former U.S. president for the administration's military action against Iran and claimed unnamed countries were already moving to assist U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told the audience that the former president said, 'I wish I did it. I wish I did.' When asked to name the ex‑president, Trump replied, 'I can't tell you that. I don't want to embarrass him. It would be very bad for his career, even though he's got no career left.' He later repeated the anecdote in the Oval Office and said explicitly that the comment was not from George W. Bush.
Anyone familiar with Trump's public style notes that he often recounts conversations that are difficult to verify. With four living former presidents and Bush excluded, the remark would point to Bill Clinton, Barack Obama or Joe Biden — but reporting by The Associated Press, NBC News and The New York Times found no recent calls between Trump and those former presidents, suggesting the exchange may not have occurred.
Claims About Foreign Support
Separately, Trump told attendees that several countries had answered his call to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and that his administration would be "announcing them" soon. 'I have to tell you, we have some that are really enthusiastic,' he said. 'They're coming already. They've already started to get there.'
Those assertions stood out because European governments have publicly expressed skepticism about intervening. Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, told reporters, 'This is not our war; we did not start it.' Officials in the U.K. and across Europe have been cautious about committing forces to the region.
Pattern And Verification
Reporters and commentators noted that the episode fits a recurring pattern: in 2018 Bloomberg News described Trump's reliance on "anonymous validators" — unnamed, influential figures who supposedly privately assured him he was right. Eight years on, Trump continues to lean on unverifiable private endorsements and anonymous claims of international backing.
Why it matters: Public claims about private endorsements and foreign military support are difficult to confirm but can shape public perception and diplomatic dynamics. Independent reporting so far has not corroborated the specific presidential phone call or the list of countries Trump described.
Sources: The Associated Press, NBC News, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, statements from European officials.
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