US President Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters to continue demonstrations and seize state institutions, openly backing the unrest as tensions with Tehran sharply escalated.
Donald Trump urges Iranian protesters to continue demonstrations and seize state institutions amid rising unrest and a mounting death toll (Photo: File)
Iran Protest: US President Donald Trump has called upon demonstrators in Iran that he supports to continue their protests, including taking over government buildings. This is unusual, given the circumstances that Iran is experiencing.
However, the response from Donald Trump has been quite candid. Writing on his platform, Truth Social, he encouraged the Iranians to continue with their protests and even called for the takeover of governmental institutions. He used the hashtag “Make Iran Great Again” and cancelled all his meetings with Iranians.
Trump warned those responsible for the murder of Iranian protestants that they will get the consequences and also stated that “help is on its way.” This comes at a time when Iran is already under pressure from the recent clashes with Israeli forces and US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump - Jan 13 2026, 9:43 AM ET )
Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings… pic.twitter.com/oQ46NkNmA3— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) January 13, 2026
However, the protests have yet to remain peaceful in all areas. According to an Iranian high-ranking government official, as reported by Reuters, over 2,000 people have been killed since the protests broke out. This number comprises protesters and security forces.
Over 10,700 arrests have been recorded. Verification of the information has been difficult due to internet blackouts and restrictions on freedom of reporting. Iranian government officials have termed the protests as activities of rioters and foreign-backed agents, while human rights bodies accuse security forces of relying on violence to silence the protesters.
Behind the unrest is an economy that suffers from severe damage. Iran’s currency has fallen to over 1.4 million rials to the US dollar, with inflation skyrocketing and the cost of food and energy out of reach for the common Iranian family, fueled by the recent reduction of fuel subsidies and the abolition of preferential exchange rates for imports by the Iranian government. For Iranians, basic life has become the challenge to overcome and the economic complaint turned political outrage.
Iran’s government has been challenged by mass protests that erupted in late December of the year 2025 in response to increasing economic difficulties such as hyperinflation and the devaluation of the Iranian rial, the national currency. These protests spread to all the provinces in Iran, all 31 of them.
Activist organizations have indicated that the toll of those who lost their lives has already exceeded the figure of 500 and there are over 10,600 arrested protesters in the violence exerted by the government in an attempt to suppress them, with no access to the internet allowed in the process.
