NPR News: 07-10-2026 4AM EDT

Giles Snyder· Host0:00

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Iran's late supreme leader has been laid to rest following a week of funeral processions, rallies, and mourning ceremonies. Huge crowds gathered early today for the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in northeast Iran. Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes of the war, and his funeral came as the US and Iran exchanged fire for a second day. Iran's health ministry says at least fourteen people were killed by the US airstrikes and nearly eighty others wounded. President Trump is calling Iranian leaders scum just weeks after praising them as smart and rational people. NPR's Franco Ordoñez reports on the diplomatic whiplash that has come to define Trump's approach to global affairs.

Franco Ordoñez0:44

Three weeks ago, President Trump described the Iranians as brave people who wanted to change the direction of their country for the better.

Donald Trump· Soundbite0:51

We're dealing with people that I think are very rational people. I mean, they were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people.

Franco Ordoñez0:58

But he delivered a much different characterization yesterday at the NATO summit in Turkey.

Donald Trump· Soundbite1:03

I don't want to deal with them anymore. They're scum. You know what scum is? They're scum. They're sick people. They're led by sick people.

Franco Ordoñez1:10

It's part of a pattern with the president, who often swings between praise and threats in an effort to almost will this war to an end. But you can also hear Trump struggling with that balance, insisting to reporters later that the war will not start again. Franco Ordoñez, NPR News.

Giles Snyder· Host1:28

In Utah, Kirk family lawyer