# Politico

Senior U.S. Aides Said to Have Urged Israel to Strike Iran First to Create a Pretext for American Action

A Politico exclusive reported that senior advisers to President Trump privately preferred Israel to strike Iran first, hoping Iranian retaliation would create public support in the U.S. for follow-on American military action. The White House declined to confirm the claim, while the disclosure underscores how domestic political calculations are shaping high-stakes diplomacy and raising the risk of unintended escalation.