Operation Epic Fury or Operation Epstein Distraction? Internet reacts to Trump’s strike on Iran
In the wake of the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran, the internet is running rife with theories about Donald Trump’s true motivation for the assault.
After Donald Trump announced the US and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran, the internet went into a frenzy about the “real” reason for the attack.
The Trump administration has long concerned itself with Iran’s military capacity, telling the public they won’t stand for the development of the country’s nuclear capabilities.
The US president claimed that Iran was building nuclear weapons that threaten US allies and might soon be able to reach the US.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In his eight-minute-long post to Truth Social, Mr Trump said Iran had rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions.
“Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland,” Mr Trump said.
But just as conflict analysts are rightfully sceptical of Mr Trump’s motivations, so too are internet sleuths, many of whom claim the incitement of a deadly conflict is yet another distraction tactic - the latest in a long line of the US’s interference in global politics.
Operation Epic Fury or Operation Epstein Fury?
Since the most recent disclosure of the Epstein files was still rife with redacted names, the public is calling for transparency regarding Donald Trump’s connection to convicted paedophile and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The military campaign, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, involved striking more than 100 targets in the first instance.
But many social media users have a different name for the military campaign - Operation Epstein Fury!
The starting point appears to be on X, where the US Department of War post “OPERATION EPIC FURY”.
The replies are filled with users saying “Operation Epstein Fury” instead of the campaign’s name - and the new title is catching.
Videos condemning the actions of Mr Trump, labelling his attack as entirely self-interest, have flooded social media.
In a video posted by The Lincoln Project, Rick Wilson talked about the “real” reason that Mr Trump bypassed the advice of his own advisors to start the conflict.
Titled “America Wakes Up to WAR with Iran: Operation EPSTEIN Fury”, Mr Wilson connects the military campaign with Mr Trump’s diminishing numbers at the polls - and the public’s demand for transparency about his connection to Epstein.
Users in the comment section appeared defeated.
“So ashamed of our Epstein-driven, war-mongering, dementia-laden president,” one user wrote.
With more than 135,000 views already, the video is part of a wider internet trend, and the phrase Operation Epstein Fury is spreading like wildfire.
Posts inspired by the video have flooded every platform.
Some users are adding their own spin to the new name: “’Operation Epic Fury?’ more like ‘Operation Distract from the Epstein Files’” one TikTok creator posted.
On Instagram, a graphic that reads: “Now that’s what I call a distraction from the Epstein files” is making the rounds.
