The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Lawrence: Trump’s lie about Iran school bombing disgraces the American presidency
Mar 12, 2026
Andrew Weissmann, former federal prosecutor and legal analyst, and Rep. Adam Smith, top Democrat on House Armed Services, join to discuss implications of disinformation and wartime failures. They cover Pentagon incompetence, transparency on war costs, national security risks, and the push to preserve key records in the Epstein inquiries. Short, urgent conversations on oversight and accountability.
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Trump's Evasion Undermines Presidential Responsibility
- Lawrence O'Donnell argues the Trump administration lies routinely and treats war as a PR exercise rather than owning consequences.
- He contrasts Harry Truman's "buck stops here" with Trump's repeated evasions like calling a war a "little excursion."
Administration Misread Iran's Likely Economic Retaliation
- O'Donnell cites New York Times reporting that Trump advisers misjudged Iran's likely response, failing to foresee disruptions to oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
- He notes advisors dismissed warnings that Iran could close lanes moving ~20% of world oil supply.
U.S. Strike Killed Iranian Schoolchildren According To Pentagon Probe
- O'Donnell reports a Pentagon preliminary investigation found a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck a girls' school in Iran, killing about 175 people, mostly children.
- He highlights New York Times visual evidence the school was fenced off and functioned as a school since at least 2013, contradicting administration claims.