President Donald Trump’s decades-old comments on Iran resurfaced Tuesday in a 1980 interview clip in which he argued America needed to project strength during the hostage crisis.
“When you get the respect of the other countries, then the other countries tend to do a little bit as you do … and then you create the right attitudes,” Trump said in the resurfaced clip during an interview with reporter Rona Barrett about the Iranian hostage crisis.
When asked during the interview whether the U.S. should send troops into Iran during the hostage crisis, the real estate mogul didn’t hesitate. Trump shared the clip on Truth Social on Tuesday.
“I absolutely feel that, yes,” Trump responded. “I don’t think there’s any question.”
TRUMP SAYS HE LEFT INSTRUCTIONS TO ‘BOMB’ IRAN ‘AT LEVELS’ NEVER SEEN IF HE IS ASSASSINATED
The clip has been circulating on social media amid escalating tensions with Iran after the U.S. resumed strikes after the collapse of a ceasefire agreement.
Trump was discussing the Iran hostage crisis, during which Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
“The Iranian situation is case in point that they hold our hostages is just absolutely and totally ridiculous that this country sits back and allows a country such as Iran to hold our hostages, to my way of thinking is a horror,” he added.
TRUMP SAYS IRAN CEASEFIRE IS ‘OVER’ AFTER IRANIAN ATTACKS TRIGGER MASSIVE US RESPONSE
After lengthy negotiations over a memorandum of understanding with Iran collapsed, the U.S. resumed military operations against Iranian targets. CENTCOM said U.S. forces would resume blocking maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports Tuesday afternoon.
“Long before he was elected, President Trump has been remarkably consistent in his belief that Iran — a nation that chants ‘Death to America’ — can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital.
“The United States and our allies are already safer for President Trump’s bold actions to obliterate Iran’s nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer and decimate their military in Operation Epic Fury. The successful Trump policy is defined by American strength, and President Trump will always unapologetically advance America’s interests.”
Trump said Monday that Tehran’s military capabilities have been badly weakened and warned of continued “major attacks.”
“If we didn’t do it, they would have had a nuclear weapon. If they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would no longer be with us. The Middle East probably would no longer be with us,” Trump said.
TRUMP HAS IRAN ON THE ROPES — AND CRITICS STILL DON’T GET HIS EDGE
While answering questions from reporters Monday, Trump said his administration has taken a tougher stance with Iran than previous administrations.
“This is what they’ve done for 47 years,” Trump said. “The difference is nobody negotiated like I do. And this should have been done by Bush and Obama and Biden and people before them.”
He also accused Iran of dragging out negotiations for decades.
