"They’ll Just Get Mowed Down": Trump Rebuffs Netanyahu Call for Iranian Uprising

Trump told Netanyahu, “Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they’ll just get mowed down,” during a call last week, according to U.S. officials. The conversation reflects differences in how Washington and Jerusalem view regime change and acceptable levels of chaos.

While the U.S. and Israel largely agree on military objectives in Iran, their strategies diverge on political outcomes. Netanyahu considers fostering a popular uprising a central goal, whereas Trump regards regime change as a secondary “bonus,” rarely revisiting earlier statements suggesting the Iranian people would take over the government after U.S. operations.

Israeli forces carried out precision strikes killing Ali Larijani, Iran’s national security chief, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij militia, along with several deputies. Officials say Soleimani had been tasked with suppressing protests, and his removal was intended to open the way for civilian dissent.

Following the strikes, Netanyahu proposed a joint U.S.-Israel public call for Iranians to protest. Trump opposed, warning it could result in a massacre given thousands of civilians had already been killed in previous unrest.

Netanyahu later made a public statement encouraging Iranians to celebrate the Festival of Fire amid airstrikes, yet few responded, reflecting persistent fear of regime retaliation. U.S. and Israeli officials cited the cautious response as evidence of the regime’s continued control over the population.