President Donald Trump spent the first hours of a deadly escalation with Iran flooding Truth Social with old video clips and barbs aimed at political adversaries, drawing sharp criticism as U.S. forces faced Iranian missile and drone attacks across the Middle East.
The 79-year-old president launched into an extended late-night posting spree on Monday, March 2, 2026, continuing well past midnight with a blend of self-praise, grievances, and occasional updates on the military campaign called Operation Epic Fury. His rapid-fire posts coincided with Iranian counterstrikes that ultimately killed six U.S. service members stationed in Kuwait.
The out-of-step online activity occurred just hours after Trump gave his first extensive public comments on the Iran operation during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House. During the event, he abruptly moved from discussing military actions to complaining about construction noise at the White House and remarks from his wife about pile drivers.
“When you hear all the hammering out there, you know why the first lady is not thrilled exactly,” Trump told the audience. “She said, ‘Will the pile drivers ever stop?’ You know they go from six in the morning until 11:30 in the evening.”
Trump was referencing his $400 million ballroom project on the White House grounds, which has grown considerably from its initial $200 million estimate. The privately funded effort—backed by companies including Palantir, Lockheed Martin, and Meta—has prompted Democratic accusations of corruption. Trump used the ceremony to boast that he chose gold drapes and selected doors, claiming his design choices “saved curtains.”
Later that Monday evening, while Iranian drones targeted the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia, Trump posted a nostalgic montage from his and Melania’s 2004 appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” shortly after their engagement. He also shared articles praising Melania for her historic role presiding over a United Nations Security Council session focused on children affected by conflict.
Amid the positive posts were attacks on Senator Mark Kelly and Rep. Jason Crow, who had released a video in November telling U.S. troops they “can and must refuse illegal orders.” Trump wrote that “Mark Kelly and the group of Unpatriotic Politicians were WRONG” and accused them of “seditious behavior.” The Justice Department later investigated, but a grand jury declined to indict the lawmakers in February.
Trump also used the outpouring of posts to target Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Joe Biden. One message about Pelosi demanded to “lock her up,” while another praised Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. He additionally reposted claims calling himself “the greatest president to ever live.”
Less than six hours after ending his late-night barrage, Trump was back on Truth Social at 5:48 a.m. Tuesday, announcing: “TRUTH SOCIAL IS THE BEST! There is nothing even close!!!”
Trump’s frenetic overnight posting drew backlash from critics who pointed to the striking contrast between his online activity and the escalating military crisis. While the president was sharing old engagement footage and attacking rivals, six U.S. troops were killed when a drone hit a temporary operations center at the Port of Shuaiba in Kuwait early Sunday local time.
The Pentagon confirmed all six casualties served in the Army Reserve. The first four were identified on Tuesday, March 3, Capt. Cody Khork, 35; Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39; and Sgt. Declan Coady, 20. The final two — Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, were named on Wednesday, March 4.
During Monday’s Medal of Honor ceremony, Trump said the Iran campaign might last “four to five weeks,” though he warned the U.S. was prepared to stay engaged “far longer.” The death toll in Iran has climbed to at least 787, according to the Iranian Red Crescent, and the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive has already killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with numerous senior officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the gravity of the situation during a Pentagon briefing. “As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties,” he said. “War is **** and always will be.”
The disparity between Trump’s social media posts and the severity of the conflict highlighted what critics call his unconventional wartime communication style—relying on Truth Social updates, impromptu phone interviews, and offhand comments about curtains and construction while Americans serve and die overseas.
