Donald Trump has faced sharp criticism after threatening to wipe out Iran’s power plants and bridges in an expletive-riddled social media post on Sunday.
The US president told Iran: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.” He separately suggested there was a “good chance” of an agreement to end the five-week war on Monday, telling US media that negotiations were happening.
Trump’s post drew criticism from Capitol Hill. Chuck Schumer, a senior Senate Democrat, said: “The president of the United States is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media … He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.”
Here are the top stories of the day:
Trump warns Iran to reopen strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face ‘hell’
Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden warning on Sunday that Tehran had until Tuesday night to reopen the strait of Hormuz or the US would obliterate Iran’s power plants and bridges.
Iran’s parliament speaker responded with a warning that the US president’s “reckless moves” would mean “our whole region is going to burn”.
‘Unhinged madman’: US politicians react to Trump Iran threats
Some US politicians have reacted with alarm and questioned the US president’s mental state after Trump issued his threat to Iran.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former staunch Trump ally turned critic, said everyone in the Trump administration who claimed to be a Christian needed to “beg forgiveness from God” and intervene in the president’s “madness”.
Trump hails rescue of second crew member of downed fighter jet
Donald Trump hailed a mission to rescue the second crew member of a downed US fighter jet “one of most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history” – and claimed that not a “single American” had been killed or wounded in the operation.
The second crew member of the F-15E fighter jet was rescued from an Iranian mountain by US commandos, ending a two-day search after the warplane crashed in south-west Iran.
Officials appear to tone down vaccine criticism before midterms
US health officials appear to be shying away from voicing negative views of vaccines in public as November’s midterm elections loom and key polling indicates anti-vaccine views are a liability.
US former soft power czar on Trump’s damage
Trump’s venal persona and his war on Iran will do untold damage to the US’s ability to make a positive difference in the world, writes Richard Stengel in the Guardian’s featured essay this week.
What else happened today:
Catching up? Here’s what happened on 4 April 2026.
