Fact Check: Trump Did Not Link Indonesian Sunnis and Shias to Iran

A recent wave of misinformation circulating on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) alleged that former U.S. President Donald Trump had commented on the religious dynamics between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Indonesia, specifically in relation to their stance on Iran. The claim suggested a narrative of Indonesian Sunnis, who allegedly reject Shias, now supporting Iran due to shared opposition to the U.S. and Israel.

Tempo, a respected Indonesian news outlet, undertook a thorough fact-checking process to verify these viral remarks. Their investigation meticulously examined Donald Trump's Truth Social account, the platform he frequently uses for public statements, as well as credible media reports from the period when the alleged comments were made (around April 9, 2026). The results were unequivocal: no evidence was found to support the claim.

Tempo's analysis extended to searching specialized websites that document Trump's Truth Social activity. These searches confirmed that Trump had not issued any statements mentioning "Indonesia" in the preceding month, nor had he posted about the Sunni-Shia issue or Iran in relation to Indonesia. This rigorous verification process led Tempo to definitively conclude that the viral claim is false. This fact-check serves as a crucial reminder for social media users to critically evaluate information and rely on credible sources, especially when dealing with sensitive geopolitical and religious topics.