Amid the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, US President Donald Trump made an extraordinary claim at a Republican fundraiser, stating that Iran had informally offered him the position of Supreme Leader, a proposal he said he declined. The statement immediately went viral, prompting a wave of memes and jokes across social media platforms.
What Trump said at the NRCC fundraiser
Speaking at the annual National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) fundraising dinner on Wednesday, March 25, Trump elaborated on his claim. He said, ‘There’s never been a head of a country that wanted that job less than being the head of Iran. We hear them very clearly. They say, ‘I don’t want it.’ We’d like to make you the next supreme leader. No, thank you. I don’t want it.’
The president emphasised that Iran’s leaders allegedly wanted a deal with the US but were too fearful to openly admit it. ‘They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us,’ Trump added.
Social media reacts
Trump’s claim quickly became a source of humor online. On X (formerly Twitter), users mocked the statement with playful references. One user dubbed him ‘Ayatollah Donald J. Trump,’ while another joked, ‘The ayatollah is dead and Donald J. Trump is in charge; things could be worse.’ The comments reflect the mixture of amusement and disbelief sparked by Trump’s remarks.
Ayatollah Donald J. Trump 😅
— Rofi Aulia Rahman (@rofiauliarahman) March 25, 2026
True pic.twitter.com/mDsP6hEuC4
— Bureau-39 (@Ojayy031) March 25, 2026
Iran denies any talks
The claim comes after Iran explicitly stated that no officials from the country are engaging in talks with the United States. Trump, however, has repeatedly suggested that informal negotiations have been occurring, asserting that Iran is desperate to ‘make a deal’ but cannot publicly admit it due to safety concerns.
Trump’s continued assertions on Iran
In recent weeks, Trump has portrayed Iran as ‘on its knees,’ implying that the country is eager for a deal yet constrained by internal fears. His remarks at the NRCC fundraiser build on these earlier claims, mixing bold statements with anecdotal and unverified assertions about Iran’s supposed communications with the US.