Trump Challenges Iran Strike Intelligence at NATO Summit

The Hague, Netherlands – Former President Donald Trump faced questions from CNN Anchor Kaitlan Collins today at the NATO summit regarding the assessment of damage to Iranian nuclear sites following recent U.S. strikes. The exchange highlighted differing views on intelligence reports concerning the impact of the military action. During the press conference, Collins pressed Trump on whether the United States was relying on Israeli intelligence for its assessment of the strikes. Trump responded by criticizing initial reports from the Pentagon's intelligence arm that suggested limited damage to the sites. "A document said it could be very severe damage, but they didn't take that," Trump stated, referring to earlier intelligence. He further asserted that subsequent information indicated far more extensive destruction. "Since then, we've collected additional intelligence. We've also spoken to people who have seen the site, and the site is obliterated. We think everything nuclear is down there." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, standing alongside the former president, elaborated on the nature of intelligence assessments. When asked about a "low assessment," Hegseth explained, "Low confidence in the data in that report. And why is there low confidence? Because all of the evidence of what was just bombed by twelve 30,000-pound bombs is buried under a mountain." Collins noted that Trump did not specify who visited the sites or whether they were American, Israeli, or Iranian officials. She also highlighted Trump's belief that none of the enriched uranium was moved out of the nuclear facilities before the U.S. strikes, a point that stands in contrast to the initial Defense Intelligence Agency report and raises questions about the current location of the enriched uranium. The ongoing intelligence gathering is expected to provide further clarity on the situation.