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In his television speech on June 21 of the White House, President Donald Trump said that the United States had “erased” the Iran’s nuclear program after three of its nuclear sites. The word was intended to project power, certainty and victory. Instead, it has become viral for all bad reasons.
In a few days, “erased” turned into an online punchline, mocked by criticism and manufacturers of memes on social media platforms. He became the last of a long line of Trumpian slogans to implose under the control.
The backlash started after Cnn And The New York Times Published reports citing a preliminary assessment of American intelligence which contradicts Trump’s triumphant rhetoric. According to the disclosed results of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the United States only delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions of a few months. They did not destroy the program.
This nuance sparked an online sarcasm storm.
“Our next strike will be even more obliterated,” published a user on X.
Our next strike will be even more erased pic.twitter.com/yrhpnqvqea
– Pwease (@pweasetoken) June 26, 2025
“The only thing that was” completely erased “was Trump’s credibility,” said another.
The only thing that was “completely erased” in this bombing fiasco in Iran was Trump’s credibility.
He started a false war so that he could end it.
After saying “no new wars”.It is total fraud.
– Brooklyndad_denant! ☮️ (@mmpadellan) June 25, 2025
Others used the term to highlight Trump’s fragile record with facts: “Americans who believe that the assertion of the most documented liar in the world that Iran’s nuclear program was” completely and completely erased “is still waiting for Mexico to pay the wall,” said a user.
The Americans who believe that the assertion of the most documented liar in the world according to which the Iranian nuclear program was “completely and completely erased” is still waiting for Mexico to pay a wall. https://t.co/2dru6s9uzx pic.twitter.com/1i0icpo5eb
– Mindcite💥 (@mindcite_us) June 22, 2025
Another has made fun of the drama of all this: “This film is a must: erased 🔥🔥🔥”
This film is an essential, erased pic.twitter.com/zciyb88Syq
– Elianna (@elianna_je) June 23, 2025
Trump responded to media reports with Fury. On June 26, he went to Truth Social to denounce CNN and the New York Times, demanding that their journalists be “Licensed immediately.” In All-Caps, he accused them of being “bad people with evil intentions” and even referred to legal action.
In an official letter to the New York Times, Trump’s lawyer Alejandro Brito called The “false”, “defamatory” and “non -patriotic” article, demanding a retraction and excuses for what Trump affirms “damaged his reputation”. CNN and Times hold their reports.
The same day, the Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth defended Trump’s account, qualifying the strikes as “historical success” and minimizing the intelligence report. But HegSeth’s comments have only eaten online skepticism, in particular after admitting the American intelligence community “does not know the extent of damage”, while simultaneously claiming total destruction.
“How does it work exactly?” asked for a user.
Hegseth has just said that the intelligence community did not know the extent of the damage that was caused in Iran, but the Trump administration knows that we have “completely erased” them.
How does it work exactly?
– No (@jojofofromjerz) June 25, 2025
The backlash follows a well -used model in Trump’s political gaming book: making a daring affirmation, double, attacking the press and accusing sabotage criticism. But in this case, the weight of evidence and internet speed transform its favorite word into public relations disaster.
Trump continued to share messages of support on social truth by renting the bombing campaign and suggesting that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, his administration seems to stick to the “erased” story, even though doubts are rising.
Iran, for its part, recognized the damage. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, described strikes as “important”, but not terminal. Speaking on Iranian state television, he said that experts were carrying out a full assessment and repairs would be sought. “The discussion to require repairs for damage caused is now high in the agenda of the government,” he said.
US air strikes on June 21 were a response to the climbing of tensions after the bombing of Iranian sites on June 12 by Israel. Trump has formulated the strikes as a necessary demonstration of force, warning that other attacks could follow. However, his choice of words – “erased” – now shapes the post -bombarding story than military action itself.
Like “Covfefe”, “Hambeders” and “a very stable genius” before him, “erased” entered the Trumpian lexicon of viral absurdity, only this time, it is war, no fast food.
