President Donald Trump issued a public threat Tuesday declaring that the “whole civilization” of Iran could be destroyed, prompting legal scholars, lawmakers, and policy experts to warn that the statement could constitute an expression of genocidal intent under U.S. and international law.
The statement appeared on Trump’s Truth Social platform just hours before a deadline he set for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. The ultimatum came amid ongoing military attacks and infrastructure targeting connected to the broader conflict.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” Trump wrote. “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”
The comments were issued as the United States launched attacks on Kharg Island, identified as Iran’s key oil export hub. The United States and Israel also reportedly targeted bridges across Iran overnight as part of a wider assault that has killed thousands of people since late February. Trump set a deadline of 8 p.m. ET for Iran to reach an agreement fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and threatened additional destruction of bridges and energy infrastructure if no deal was reached.
Legal analysts responded by pointing to U.S. statutes governing genocide. Brian Finucane, senior adviser to the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group, referenced 18 U.S. Code § 1091, which prohibits American nationals from committing genocide both within the United States and abroad.
Dylan Williams, vice president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy, wrote that “this meets the threshold for intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national group as set forth in 18 US Code § 1091 prohibiting the crime of genocide.”
Williams added: “If any Iranians are killed pursuant to this threat, President Trump will be guilty of genocide, as will those assisting him.”
Concerns extended to international humanitarian law. Former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said the threat itself implicated prohibitions on collective punishment of civilian populations under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
“Trump is openly threatening collective punishment, targeting not the Iranian military but the Iranian people,” Roth told NBC News. “Attacking civilians is a war crime. So is making threats with the aim of terrorizing the civilian population.”
Roth also emphasized the obligations of public officials and military personnel when confronted with unlawful directives. “Soldiers must refuse unlawful orders. Members of Congress must call for impeachment and removal.”
Adil Haque, a professor of law at Rutgers University, wrote that the international community must intervene to prevent what he described as a catastrophic assault on a country with more than 90 million people. “Soldiers must refuse unlawful orders,” Haque wrote. “Members of Congress must call for impeachment and removal. Every American who loves their country must speak out. Enough is enough.”
Several members of Congress responded by calling for Trump’s removal from office through the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare that a president is unable to perform the duties of the office.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib urged immediate action following Trump’s statement. “After bombing a school and massacring young girls, the war criminal in the White House is threatening genocide,” Tlaib wrote. “It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment. This maniac should be removed from office.”
Rep. Mark Pocan wrote that “Trump is too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes.”
“25th Amendment RIGHT NOW,” Pocan added.
Rep. Shri Thanedar wrote that Trump “just threatened to slaughter 100 million people.”
“It’s clear he’s unfit to be president, the 25th Amendment must be invoked,” Thanedar stated. “If Vance, Rubio, and the others continue to be spineless cowards, Congress must do everything possible to stop Trump and this war.”
Rep. Ro Khanna also supported removal. “When an American president threatens the extinction of a civilization,” Khanna said, “we should be looking to invoke the 25th and remove him if Congress is to have value and independence.”
Williams warned that administration officials who assist in carrying out the threat could also face legal liability. “if you take any part in assisting this, you too will be guilty of the crime of genocide,” Williams wrote.
“Use the 25th Amendment now to lawfully remove Trump from office,” Williams added. “Congress: This is an impeachable offense. Come back to DC now ready to impeach and convict Trump.”
The National Iranian American Council issued a statement condemning Trump’s remarks and warning that military officials are not required to follow unlawful directives targeting civilians.
The organization described Trump’s statement as an “insane, genocidal” threat that must be “wholeheartedly condemned.”
“Military leaders are not bound to follow unlawful orders, including but not limited to the destruction of civilian targets and making good on this outrageous threat,” the group stated. “We call on President Trump to recant this abominable threat against 92 million Iranians. If he does not, both Congress and his Cabinet must be prepared to remove him from office via lawful means.”
The president’s statement followed earlier remarks in which he warned Iranian leaders to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences. Trump previously warned Iranian leaders to “open the Fuckin’ Strait [of Hormuz], you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.”
The escalation in rhetoric occurred alongside continued military operations targeting Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and energy facilities, as well as attacks on Kharg Island, which plays a central role in Iran’s oil export capacity.
Iran’s population exceeds 90 million people, highlighting the scale of the threat described in the president’s public statement. Legal experts emphasized that international humanitarian law prohibits targeting civilian populations or threatening their destruction.
“Attacking civilians is a war crime. So is making threats with the aim of terrorizing the civilian population.”
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