Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that a "massive Armada" is moving toward Iran, led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he characterized the naval grouping as proceeding "quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose," and said it is larger than a fleet previously dispatched to Venezuela.
Trump framed the deployment as both a show of strength and a diplomatic lever. He said the naval group is "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary." He then pressed Iran to negotiate, writing "Come to the Table" and urging a settlement he described as "a fair and equitable deal" that would prohibit "NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS" and be "good for all parties."
In his post, Trump stressed urgency, adding that "Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!"
Trump referenced a prior military action against Iran called "Operation Midnight Hammer," saying it produced "major destruction," and warned that "the next attack will be far worse" if Iran does not reach a deal.
He concluded his message with an admonition to Iran - "Don't make that happen again" - followed by "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Context and immediate framing
The announcement blends a public declaration of naval movement with a diplomatic appeal. By emphasizing the size of the force, its speed and capacity to act, and the expectation of negotiations, the post communicates both a coercive posture and an invitation to talks. Trump contrasted the current deployment with a previously sent fleet to Venezuela to underscore its relative scale.
What was said verbatim
- He called the force a "massive Armada" led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
- He said it is moving "quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose," and that it is larger than the fleet sent to Venezuela.
- He stated the group is "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary."
- He urged Iran to "Come to the Table" to negotiate "a fair and equitable deal" that would ensure "NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS" and be "good for all parties."
- He referenced "Operation Midnight Hammer," described as causing "major destruction," and warned "the next attack will be far worse" if Iran fails to make a deal.
- He concluded with "Don't make that happen again" and "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Analytical note
The message combines force projection with an explicit call for talks. It places emphasis on the immediate readiness of the naval group while setting negotiating terms focused on preventing nuclear weapons. The reference to a prior military action labeled "Operation Midnight Hammer" and the warning of a potentially more severe follow-up underscore the coercive element of the post.
Summary
Donald Trump announced that a large U.S. naval force led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is heading toward Iran, described its posture as rapidly deployable and potentially violent if required, and urged Iran to negotiate a deal to prevent nuclear weapons, warning of worse attacks should negotiations fail.