Trump’s “12 Day War” Ceasefire Crumbles Within Hours of Bold Announcement

(LibertySociety.com) – Trump erupts in fury as Israel and Iran shatter his ceasefire deal within hours, threatening to derail his major foreign policy achievement just months into his second term.

Key Takeaways

• Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 23, 2025, only to see both sides violate it almost immediately
• The President publicly cursed both nations, saying they “don’t know what the f— they’re doing,” with particular criticism aimed at Netanyahu
• Following an “exceptionally firm” phone call from Trump, Netanyahu scaled back planned retaliatory strikes against Iran
• Trump lashed out at cable news networks for their skepticism about the ceasefire’s viability
• The incident reveals Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu’s defiance and highlights tensions in the U.S.-Israel relationship

Trump’s Ceasefire Collapses Within Hours

President Donald Trump’s triumphant announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 23, 2025, quickly devolved into chaos as both nations violated the agreement within hours. The ceasefire, which Trump had declared would mark the “Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR,” was structured as a 24-hour truce with Iran agreeing to halt hostilities for the first 12 hours, followed by Israel’s compliance for the next 12. The agreement was meant to showcase Trump’s deal-making prowess in the early months of his second term.

Instead, Iran launched missiles toward Israel shortly after the ceasefire began, and Israel responded with what Trump himself described as “the biggest load of bombs I’ve ever seen.” The rapid collapse of the agreement left Trump visibly furious, as he struggled to salvage what was intended to be a significant foreign policy achievement. The violations not only undermined Trump’s diplomatic efforts but also threatened to escalate the conflict to potentially catastrophic levels.

Presidential Profanity: Trump’s Explosive Reaction

In an uncharacteristically blunt assessment of America’s allies, President Trump unleashed his frustration during remarks to reporters, using an expletive that captured headlines worldwide. “We basically have two countries that don’t know what the f— they’re doing,” Trump declared, making no attempt to hide his anger at both nations for undermining his peace efforts. While he criticized both countries, his harshest words were reserved for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I’m not happy with Israel,” Trump stated firmly. “When I say 12 hours [ceasefire], you don’t go out in the first hour and drop everything.” The President’s public rebuke of Netanyahu marked a rare moment of tension in what has typically been portrayed as a strong relationship. Trump’s willingness to openly criticize Israel surprised many observers, particularly given his historically strong support for the Jewish state during both his administrations.

The Presidential Phone Call That Averted Disaster

Following the ceasefire violations, Trump took direct action by placing a call to Netanyahu on June 24. Sources described the conversation as “exceptionally firm and direct,” with Trump making clear his expectations that Israel would honor the agreement. The call represented a critical moment in the crisis, with Trump leveraging his personal relationship with Netanyahu to prevent further escalation of hostilities in the Middle East.

The intervention proved effective. Under intense pressure from Trump, Netanyahu agreed to scale back Israel’s planned retaliatory strikes against Tehran. Israeli warplanes that were reportedly en route to conduct massive strikes on Iranian targets were ordered to “turn around and head home.” Trump later announced the ceasefire was back “in effect,” claiming a diplomatic victory despite the earlier violations.

Trump Versus the Media: Attacking the Skeptics

As Trump worked to salvage the ceasefire agreement, he simultaneously launched attacks against cable news networks for their skepticism about the deal’s viability. The President, who has long maintained an adversarial relationship with much of the mainstream media, accused news outlets of undermining his diplomatic efforts by questioning whether the agreement would hold. This two-front battle – against both the ceasefire violators and media critics – highlighted Trump’s combative approach to both foreign policy and press relations.

“The fake news media would rather see war continue than give me credit for achieving peace,” Trump reportedly told aides, according to sources familiar with the conversations. “They’ve been wrong about everything else, and they’re wrong about this too.” The President framed the ceasefire as “what few thought was possible,” positioning himself as achieving diplomatic breakthroughs despite widespread doubt.

Limited Success Against Iran’s Nuclear Program

Complicating the situation further were U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities had achieved only limited success. Reports suggested that the damage had set back Iran’s nuclear program “by only a few months,” far short of the years of delay that Israeli officials had hoped to achieve. This intelligence raised questions about the strategic value of the strikes that had precipitated the 12-day conflict in the first place.

The revelation that Israel had gained so little from its military campaign while risking regional stability may have contributed to Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu. For a president who prides himself on deal-making and achieving concrete results, the limited impact of Israel’s strikes combined with the violation of his ceasefire represented a double failure that threatened to undermine his administration’s Middle East strategy.

Shifting Dynamics in U.S.-Israel Relations

The episode revealed potential cracks in the typically strong relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. While Trump has been one of Israel’s most supportive U.S. presidents – moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokering the Abraham Accords during his first term – this public criticism signaled his willingness to pressure the Israeli leader when necessary.

For Netanyahu, the incident demonstrated the limitations of his independence from U.S. influence, even with a traditionally supportive president in the White House. The Israeli leader’s decision to abort planned strikes following Trump’s intervention showed that despite Israel’s military capabilities, it remains dependent on American diplomatic and military support. This reality check may reshape the dynamics between the two leaders as they navigate the complex challenges of Middle East politics.

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