U.S. President Donald Trump has described Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” in a post on Truth Social shortly after announcing Khamenei’s death on February 28, 2026 (local time in Iran, corresponding to late February 28/early March 1 GMT).
Trump posted:
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country… The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”
He framed the killing (via joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Khamenei’s Tehran compound/office) as “justice” for victims of Iran’s regime, including Americans and others allegedly harmed by Khamenei’s policies (e.g., support for proxies like Hezbollah/Hamas, nuclear pursuits, and regional conflicts).
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Trump urged Iranians to seize the moment for regime change, offered potential “immunity” to IRGC/police forces if they defect, and warned of continued strikes until “peace” is achieved.
The post was reposted/shared by official accounts (@WhiteHouse on X) and sparked massive reactions, from support to criticism.
This rhetoric aligns with Trump’s long-standing hardline stance on Iran during his presidencies, emphasizing retribution for perceived threats and promoting freedom for Iranians.