CNN's Dana Bash doesn't see the funny side of Trump's brutal truth bomb about Iran
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President Donald Trump shared a moment of dark humor with CNN host Dana Bash when she asked about slain military leaders in Iran.
Trump urged the Iranians to 'come to the table to make a deal before it's too late' and pointed out that those who were advocating against a nuclear deal with the United States were now dead.
'You know the people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners,' he said, according to Bash.
Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's commander in chief of the military was killed in the initial Israeli military strikes as well as Gen. Hossein Salami, Gen. Gholamali Rashid and Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
When Bash asked if their deaths were the result of Israel's attack last night, Trump replied sarcastically, 'They didn't die of the flu - they didn't die of Covid.'
Bash appeared on CNN to share details of her conversation but did not react to Trump's comment and said the president said it 'quite sarcastically.'
Trump repeated his call for negotiations in a post on social media.
'Certain Iranian hardliner's spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!' he wrote.
The president noted the 'great death and destruction,' from the attacks but warned that future attacks would be 'even more brutal.'
He reminded Iranians that he gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to make a deal but they refused.
'They should have done it! Today is day 61. I told them what to do, but they just couldn't get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!' he wrote.
Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier Thursday evening he was aware of the pending Israeli strikes before they took place, but did not intervene to stop them.
'Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb. We'll hopefully get back to the negotiating table,' Trump said. 'There are several people in leadership in Iran who will not be coming back.'
Trump defended his reaction to Israel's strikes telling Axios on Friday that he did not expect the attacks to disrupted his diplomatic efforts with Iran.
'I don't think so. Maybe the opposite. Maybe now they will negotiate seriously,' he said, calling it a 'a big day.'
A senior administration official told Axios that Trump did not want Israel to attack Iran.
'We told this to the Israelis publicly and privately ahead of the strike,' the White House official said.
On Thursday, Trump wrote on social media that the United States was 'committed' to making a deal.
'We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue! My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran,' he wrote.
