An excerpt from a forthcoming book by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, obtained by Politico, says Donald Trump was frustrated with Vice President J.D. Vance over his public description of U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. Vance told ABC’s Jonathan Karl he was unsure whether the sites were "obliterated" or "severely damaged," saying the strikes set Iran's nuclear program back substantially. The book quotes Trump urging aides to repeat the word "obliterated" and recounts a tense exchange in which Trump told Vance, "I know what I'm doing," then turned away.
Trump Pressed Staff to Repeat 'Obliterated' After June Iran Strikes, Book Excerpt Says
An excerpt from a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, obtained by Politico, describes a tense exchange between former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.
The book excerpt recounts that in the hours after the strikes, Vance was interviewed by ABC News' Jonathan Karl and was asked whether Iran's nuclear sites had been "obliterated." According to the excerpt, Vance responded that he was unsure whether the facilities were "obliterated" or "severely damaged," adding that "we set their nuclear program back substantially."
“Well, Jon, severely damaged versus obliterated, I’m not exactly sure what the difference is. What we know is we set their nuclear program back substantially,” Vance said.
That answer, the excerpt says, frustrated Trump. The book quotes the president telling an associate—using a pointed choice of words—that everyone needed to repeat the term "obliterated." The passage describes Trump insisting: "That’s the word. Everyone just needs to copy what I say. Obliterated. Obliterated."
According to the excerpt: "Everyone needs to say ******* 'obliterated.' … That’s the word. Everyone just needs to copy what I say. Obliterated. Obliterated."
The book also recounts a private moment in which Vance reportedly suggested softening the administration's public language about the strikes. Trump allegedly pushed back, telling his vice president, "I know what I'm doing," and then, seemingly irritated, turned his back on him, the authors write.
Haberman and Swan’s account—published in an excerpt obtained by Politico—focuses on the communications and public messaging around the strikes rather than independent verification of the actual damage to Iran's nuclear program. Officials and independent experts may offer differing assessments of the strikes' tactical and strategic effects.
Reporting note: The details above are drawn from a book excerpt provided to Politico and reflect the authors’ reporting and sourcing; they are presented as claims attributed to those sources in the excerpt.
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