Trump claims, 'I never cared about regime change' in Iran, says its current leaders are 'strong, smart' [View all]

Trump: “You talk about regime change. I never cared about regime change. It [was] never a part. But I guess you have regime change because you know better than anybody, the first group, they’re all dead. The second group, they’re dead. A part of the third group is gone,” he says, referring to echelons of the Iranian leadership.

“And we’re dealing with people that I think are very rational people. They were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people. I think actually they’re smarter than the first and second group, but they’re not radicalized and they’re, you know, looking to help their country...I don’t believe in regime change. And I’ve watched regime changes for years. They never work. It has to just happen [naturally]."

On the first day of the war in late February, Trump indicated that the goal of the strikes in Iran was to topple the regime, and called on the Iranian people to seize the opportunity to take over their government, telling them “the hour of your freedom is at hand.”

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he said at the time.

Article at link:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/trump-claims-i-never-cared-about-regime-change-in-iran-current-leaders-are-strong-smart/

They probably called him "Sir," with tears in their eyes.