President Trump escalated his aggressive rhetoric toward Iran, threatening to wipe out the entirety of the country’s civilization if Tehran doesn’t cede to his demands by 8 p.m. Tuesday. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran cut off direct communications with the U.S. over the threat, though talks with cease-fire mediators continue. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) referred to Trump as “an extremely sick person” and called on Republicans to intervene, while influential right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson said U.S. officials should resist any potential attempt by Trump to launch mass attacks that would kill Iranian civilians.