By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-trump-addresses-iran-strikes-kent-resignation-during-st-patricks-day-visit-with-irish-taoiseach-martin Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump addresses Iran strikes, Kent resignation during St. Patrick's Day visit with Irish Taoiseach Martin World Mar 17, 2026 1:55 PM EDT President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran's leaders "are gone" after the apparent killing of top security officials. Watch the full bilateral meeting in the video player above. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the president said two top Iranian officials were killed, including one he said was responsible for the deaths of 32,000 Iranian protesters in recent weeks. READ MORE: Israel kills 2 top Iranian officials in another wartime blow to country's leadership "Their leaders are gone," Trump said. "It's an evil group." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. He made the comments after Israel said its overnight strikes killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force. Iran did not immediately confirm either death. Trump says the resigning head of the National Counterterrorism Center is 'weak' on security The president said Joe Kent was a "nice guy" but "I always thought" he was "very weak on security." READ MORE: Joe Kent, top counterterrorism official, says Iran posed no imminent threat as he resigns over Trump's war Trump said that Kent leaving his post was "a good thing" since he disagreed with Kent's assessment on the threat from Iran. "We don't want those people," he said. Trump says NATO is making a 'very foolish mistake' by not assisting U.S. in Iran war Trump complained about NATO's refusal to join the U.S. in the war, calling the decision "disappointing" and bad for the "partnership." He floated the idea of having the U.S. withdraw from the alliance as a result. "It's certainly something that we should think about. I don't need Congress for that decision," Trump said, adding: "I have nothing currently in mind but I'm not exactly thrilled." READ MORE: Trump says he's been rejected by NATO, most allies to join mission to secure critical Strait of Hormuz NATO exists as a defensive alliance, not an offensive one, and has said it has no plans to get involved in the U.S.-led war with Iran. However, NATO troops did deploy for 18 years to Afghanistan and its 2011 air campaign helped topple Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Trump delays his trip to China as Iran war continues The trip to China had been planned for months but began to unravel as he pressured Beijing and other world powers to use military might to protect the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Tuesday while meeting with Martin in the Oval Office that he would be going to China in five or six weeks' time instead of at the end of the month. He said he would be "resetting" his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, without elaborating. WATCH: Timing of Trump-Xi talks may be moved, White House says Soon after pressing China and other nations to send warships to secure access to Middle Eastern oil over the weekend, Trump indicated his travel plans were up in the air, though he also indicated Tuesday that the U.S. didn't need any help after being rebuffed by other allies. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran's leaders "are gone" after the apparent killing of top security officials. Watch the full bilateral meeting in the video player above. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the president said two top Iranian officials were killed, including one he said was responsible for the deaths of 32,000 Iranian protesters in recent weeks. READ MORE: Israel kills 2 top Iranian officials in another wartime blow to country's leadership "Their leaders are gone," Trump said. "It's an evil group." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. He made the comments after Israel said its overnight strikes killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force. Iran did not immediately confirm either death. Trump says the resigning head of the National Counterterrorism Center is 'weak' on security The president said Joe Kent was a "nice guy" but "I always thought" he was "very weak on security." READ MORE: Joe Kent, top counterterrorism official, says Iran posed no imminent threat as he resigns over Trump's war Trump said that Kent leaving his post was "a good thing" since he disagreed with Kent's assessment on the threat from Iran. "We don't want those people," he said. Trump says NATO is making a 'very foolish mistake' by not assisting U.S. in Iran war Trump complained about NATO's refusal to join the U.S. in the war, calling the decision "disappointing" and bad for the "partnership." He floated the idea of having the U.S. withdraw from the alliance as a result. "It's certainly something that we should think about. I don't need Congress for that decision," Trump said, adding: "I have nothing currently in mind but I'm not exactly thrilled." READ MORE: Trump says he's been rejected by NATO, most allies to join mission to secure critical Strait of Hormuz NATO exists as a defensive alliance, not an offensive one, and has said it has no plans to get involved in the U.S.-led war with Iran. However, NATO troops did deploy for 18 years to Afghanistan and its 2011 air campaign helped topple Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Trump delays his trip to China as Iran war continues The trip to China had been planned for months but began to unravel as he pressured Beijing and other world powers to use military might to protect the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Tuesday while meeting with Martin in the Oval Office that he would be going to China in five or six weeks' time instead of at the end of the month. He said he would be "resetting" his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, without elaborating. WATCH: Timing of Trump-Xi talks may be moved, White House says Soon after pressing China and other nations to send warships to secure access to Middle Eastern oil over the weekend, Trump indicated his travel plans were up in the air, though he also indicated Tuesday that the U.S. didn't need any help after being rebuffed by other allies. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now