'He's insane': Trump ruthlessly mocked after calling retaliatory Iran strikes a 'love tap'

Trump described U.S. military strikes against Iran on Thursday as a "love tap," prompting scathing ridicule and skepticism that the attack didn't violate a delicate ceasefire.

"President Trump tells me in a phone call the retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets are just a 'love tap,'" ABC senior political correspondent Rachel Scott posted on X. "When I asked if it means the ceasefire is over, 'No, no, the ceasefire is going. It's in effect.'"

U.S. and Iranian naval forces briefly exchanged fire on Thursday. While Trump touted U.S. success in sinking Iranian ships like "a butterfly" in a Truth Social post, he downplayed the intensity to reporters to uphold the ceasefire deal.

"I've also never heard someone use the term 'love tap' who wasn't also the kinda jack-- that would hit their wife," journalist and political consultant Adam Cochran responded. "Just sayin'"

"President Trump says the U.S. strikes that just occurred in Iran were a 'love tap' and that the ceasefire remains in place," journalist Yashar Ali wrote. "The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, says the strikes were a violation of the ceasefire and that it will respond."

"The ceasefire is apparently still in effect, just with light physical affection," joked White House correspondent Nandita Bose.

"At what point do exchanges of fire during a ceasefire constitute an end or violation of said ceasefire?" Foreign Policy writer John Haltiwanger demanded. "What is the threshold?"

"An idiot runs this country," Daily Kos reporter Emily Singer wrote.

"He's insane," agreed former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger.