President Donald Trump made headlines on Tuesday when he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war hero” during a radio interview. Trump then extended that label to himself, saying he deserved the same recognition for his role in airstrikes against Iran earlier this year.
The comments came during an interview with conservative radio host Mark Levin, where Trump praised Netanyahu for his work in trying to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Trump called Netanyahu “a good man” who was “in there fighting,” despite the Israeli leader facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
According to Politico, Trump then said, “He’s a war hero, cause we worked together. He’s a war hero. I guess I am too. Nobody cares. I am too. I sent those planes”. The president was referring to his decision to order airstrikes in June against three critical uranium enrichment facilities in Iran.
Trump’s military service history raises questions about war hero claims
The president’s comments about being a war hero have drawn criticism because of his own military service record. Trump has never been deployed or fought in a war. During the Vietnam War, he received five deferments from military service, including one for bone spurs in his heels when he was 22 years old.
Trump, who famously dodged the draft by claiming he had *bone spurs*, calls himself a “war hero”
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) August 20, 2025
How do our Tennessee veterans out there who actually served feel about this? pic.twitter.com/ZzMQ18lE3Z
Trump received the first four draft deferments because he was enrolled in college, and the fifth and final one came as a result of a bone spur diagnosis. This kept him from serving during one of America’s most difficult conflicts, while many other young men his age were drafted to fight.
Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who served as an Air National Guard officer, criticized Trump’s comments on CNN. The ex-lawmaker said it would be inappropriate for anyone who had actually served to call themselves a war hero, noting that true war heroes show humility about their service.
Iran airstrikes sparked international tensions
The June airstrikes Trump referenced targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities using B-2 stealth bombers carrying 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs. The operation marked the first time the United States had conducted a direct military attack on Iran, escalating the conflict between Israel and Iran that began on June 13.
Trump’s decision to enter the conflict divided his MAGA base, with some supporters questioning whether America should get involved in another Middle East war. The strikes came after Israel had been conducting its own attacks on Iranian nuclear sites for several days.
In his speech announcing the strikes, Trump said the objective was to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and halt the “nuclear threat posed by the No. 1 state sponsor of terror”. He thanked Netanyahu for their cooperation, saying they worked “like no team has ever worked before” to address the Iranian threat.
The controversy highlights ongoing questions about Trump’s relationship with military service and his tendency to claim credit for military actions despite never having served himself. Veterans groups and political opponents have criticized the president for comparing his role as commander in chief to the actual combat service of soldiers who put their lives on the line.
