{"id":2576468,"date":"2026-03-05T13:33:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T18:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-wants-to-be-personally-involved-in-picking-iranian-leader\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T13:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T18:34:16","slug":"trump-wants-to-be-personally-involved-in-picking-iranian-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-wants-to-be-personally-involved-in-picking-iranian-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump wants to be personally &#8216;involved&#8217; in picking Iranian leader"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-wants-to-be-personally-involved-in-picking-iranian-leader%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2576468&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>&#8211; Trump told Axios he wants to be personally involved in selecting Iran\u2019s next leader, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fncs-carlson-if-youre-looking-for-election-rigging-look-no-further-than-media-treatment-of-hunter-biden-saga\/\" title=\"FNC&#039;s Carlson: &#039;If You&#039;re Looking for Election Rigging, Look No Further&#039; Than Media Treatment of Hunter Biden Saga\">senior officials<\/a> saying regime change is not a stated objective of the operation. <\/p>\n<p>&#8211; In an eight-minute phone interview, he acknowledged Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-denies-involvement-in-salman-rushdie-stabbing\/\" title=\"Iran Denies Involvement in Salman Rushdie Stabbing\">late supreme leader<\/a>, is the most likely candidate to lead the regime. <\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Trump said Mojtaba is unsuitable and asserted he should oversee the appointment himself, drawing a comparison to his involvement in Venezuela\u2019s leadership situation after a raid on Maduro. <\/p>\n<p>&#8211; white House officials\u2014including press secretary Karoline Leavitt, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State marco Rubio\u2014maintain that regime change is not the goal and declined to endorse Mojtaba, noting that the president\u2019s wording on Iran has emphasized neutralizing terrorists rather than overthrowing the regime. <\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece also notes Mojtaba Khamenei\u2019s lack of public office experience and his ties to Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump wants to be personally &lsquo;involved&rsquo; in picking next Iranian leader: Report<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2523939\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480144\/flooding-zone-hurting-trump-iran-message\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> told <em>Axios<\/em> Thursday that he wants to be personally involved with picking <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480626\/trump-attend-dignified-transfer-six-us-members-killed-iran\/\">Iran<\/a>&lsquo;s next leader, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >multiple senior administration officials repeatedly declaring<\/a> that &ldquo;regime change&rdquo; is not a stated objective of Operation Epic Fury.<\/p>\n<p>Trump conducted an eight-minute phone interview, his second with <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/03\/05\/iran-leader-trump-khamenei\">Axios<\/a><\/em>  since Saturday, where he acknowledged reports that Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of Iran&rsquo;s assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is the most likely choice to lead the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4481091\/democrats-iran-criticism-risks-political-blowback\/\">Democrats&#8217; Iran criticism risks political blowback: &#8216;Reflexive anti-Trumpism&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4478985\/trump-whcd-critics-250th-anniversary\/\">White House Correspondents&#8217; Association dinner gives Trump chance to hit media critics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480838\/planning-committee-white-house-ballroom-negative-comments\/\">Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4476538\/israel-us-iran-conflict-launched-trump-khamenei\/\"><strong>HOW THE IRAN CONFLICT WAS LAUNCHED: &lsquo;OPERATION EPIC FURY IS APPROVED. NO ABORTS. GOOD LUCK&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, Trump stated that the younger Khamenei is not a suitable candidate and that he plans on personally involving himself in the succession choice like he did with acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez following the January raid to capture Nicholas Maduro.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They are wasting their time. Khamenei&rsquo;s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,&rdquo; he stated. &ldquo;Khamenei&rsquo;s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Mojtaba Khamenei has never held public office and has long-standing ties to Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the president&rsquo;s comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have all stated that Trump is not pursuing regime change in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480626\/trump-attend-dignified-transfer-six-us-members-killed-iran\/\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4480144\/flooding-zone-hurting-trump-iran-message\/\"><strong>&lsquo;TOO MANY COOKS&rsquo;: IS FLOODING THE ZONE HURTING TRUMP&rsquo;S IRAN MESSAGE?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Regime change is not a phrase that we use again,&rdquo; Leavitt told reporters at Wednesday&rsquo;s White House press briefing. &ldquo;But obviously, as the president has said numerous times, do we want to see Iran being led by a rogue terrorist regime? No, of course, not. So any day the United States of America is taking out a terrorist is a good day for our country and a good day for our people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Leavitt also declined to say on Wednesday if the White House views Mojtaba Khamenei as &ldquo;part of the same regime as his father,&rdquo; telling reporters that they would &ldquo;wait&rdquo; to comment on his potential candidacy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump to help pick Iran&#8217;s next leader, report says<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2645,"featured_media":2576469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26063760402353.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3817,50462,3823,5894,3634],"class_list":["post-2576468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-diplomacy","tag-foreign-policy-2","tag-iran","tag-politics","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26063760402353.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2576468"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576472,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2576468\/revisions\/2576472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2576469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2576468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2576468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2576468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}