President Donald J. Trump dismissed media portrayals of Iranian resilience during his April 12, 2026, appearance on Sunday Morning Futures, asserting that Tehran’s forces have suffered devastating losses against superior U.S. defenses. He pointed to a specific failed missile attack on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln as evidence of American technological and operational dominance.
“They fired at us one day at a certain asset that we have, namely the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln… They fired 101 missiles,” Trump said. “Out of 101 missiles, 101 were shot down like nothing and are now at the bottom of the sea… They’re not doing well at all. They’re getting killed.” He tied this to the broader success of U.S. forces in Operation Epic Fury.
.@POTUS: They fired at us, one day, 101 missiles. All 101 were shot down like nothing. We have the strongest military in the world by far, and everybody sees it. When I read the Fake News talking about how 'well' Iran's doing—they're not doing well at all, they're getting killed. pic.twitter.com/ki1JS0vxHU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 12, 2026
The campaign has resulted in the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and over 40 additional top officials and commanders, including key figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Intelligence. This leadership decapitation, combined with the destruction of naval vessels, air defenses, and missile production sites, has left Iran with minimal operational capacity.
Trump contrasted the reality on the battlefield with what he called misleading coverage in outlets like the New York Times. He noted the ease with which U.S. aircraft operate over Iranian territory and the effectiveness of systems like Patriot missiles, lasers, and computerized interceptors in neutralizing threats. The president also referenced taking out a major bridge as a demonstration of resolve after Iranian public statements.
Despite these setbacks, Trump expressed belief that Iran would ultimately return to negotiations, stating that the regime has “no cards” left after the near-total degradation of its military assets and command structure.