U.S./Israeli Air Strikes Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Dead, Trump Says

Published February 28, 2026 12:38 PM PST | Updated February 28, 2026 2:36 PM PST

1:52 PM PT -- President Donald Trump has announced that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died in a scathing post on Truth Social.

In his post, he called Khamenei "One of the most evil people in History, adding ... "This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS."

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly died after the United States and Israel joined forces to launch several strikes on the Middle Eastern country Saturday.

Senior Israeli official Behnam Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital the supreme leader has been killed, while criticizing his leadership. Taleblu said ... "Khamenei’s worldview was shaped by his militant anti-Americanism and antisemitism, which first manifested itself in his protests against the Shah of Iran."

CNN and AP are also reporting his death, citing Israeli sources. He was reportedly killed at his compound in Tehran.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told NBC News ... "We feel that that is a correct story" in regard to the reports. He added that "most" of Iran's senior leadership is "gone."

The prez has been staying up to date on the situation from his briefing room at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where he attended a fundraising event Friday evening. The White House released images of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance monitoring "Operation Epic Fury" Saturday, one of which can be seen below.

Trump announced Saturday morning the U.S. launched a "massive and ongoing" military campaign alongside Israel in order to force regime change and keep Americans safe from "imminent threats."

He added of Iran ... "Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world."

Widespread protests have erupted across the globe Saturday in response ... with many Americans upset over what they see as an inappropriate and unconstitutional powerplay by Trump.

Khamenei has served as the Supreme Leader ruthlessnce 1989 ... making him the longest-serving head of the country in the Middle East at 36 years. Before taking the title, he was president of Iran from 1981 to 1989 ... and he's widely been seen as a ruthless leader who used his power to aggressively suppress those who are against his leadership.

Shockingly, hours before the attacks began, attorney Mark Geragos -- host of our "2 Angry Men" podcast -- was dining at a restaurant just down the street from the White House, and overheard a group of people bragging about the upcoming bombing.