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Trump Calls Soleimani 'Great Leader' Amid NATO Criticism

3/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

At the Future Investment Initiative in Miami, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander he ordered killed in 2020, calling him a 'great leader' and a 'mad genius'.
He said Soleimani's strategic capabilities were evident and Iran's leadership was likely relieved by his death.
Amid the US-Iran conflict, Trump called NATO a 'paper tiger' and criticized its lack of support as casualties mount.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on January 3, 2020, marked a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions, rooted in historical animosities since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Soleimani, a key figure in Iran's military strategy, was killed near Baghdad while en route to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, intensifying fears of conflict in the region and impacting U.S. foreign policy.

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Story summary

At the Future Investment Initiative in Miami, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander he ordered killed in 2020, calling him a 'great leader' and a 'mad genius'.
He said Soleimani's strategic capabilities were evident and Iran's leadership was likely relieved by his death.
Amid the US-Iran conflict, Trump called NATO a 'paper tiger' and criticized its lack of support as casualties mount.

1 / 2