A decorated American warrior is sounding a note of caution—loud and clear.

Robert O’Neill, the former Navy SEAL widely known for taking the shot that ended Osama bin Laden’s life, is urging President Donald Trump to dial it back after a wave of heated rhetoric aimed at Iran lit up social media this week. While many conservatives support a strong stance against hostile regimes, O’Neill made it clear that strength doesn’t mean saying everything out loud.

Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, O’Neill didn’t mince words about the president’s recent posts, including one alarming warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight.” The seasoned combat veteran admitted he initially thought the comments couldn’t be real.

“I have to be honest, Piers, I went to Truth Social to see if they were actually posted,” O’Neill said. “I didn’t think it was presidential, and I know that it’s very difficult to be around President Trump and tell him something you disagree with – I know the man, I’ve had dinner at the White House with him – but someone should step up on something like this. The optics are very important and you really can’t say you’re gonna wipe out an entire civilization.”

O’Neill’s concern isn’t about going soft—it’s about staying smart. He pointed out that even in wartime, America operates under rules and moral authority that separate it from its enemies.

“I mean, you’re already teetering on what rules the Geneva Convention has,” he explained. “If you’re hitting vital infrastructure for civilian survival, that’s against the Geneva Convention, you can’t do it. Now, if it’s dual purpose, which a lot of these people do, you know, that’s for a lot of the higher-ups to decide, but I don’t think it’s proper to get on social media and say you’re gonna wipe out an entire civilization like that.”

The former SEAL suggested the president’s frustration may be boiling over—particularly with international partners—but warned that emotion should never override discipline at the highest level of command.

“He’s angry, he’s mad at NATO, he’s mad at our so-called allies for not helping, and he’s yelling at his phone,” O’Neill said. “You need to take a deep breath and realize you’re the commander-in-chief of the military, you’re the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in the free world. Some things just shouldn’t be said even if you want to.”

Drawing from his own experience, O’Neill closed with a relatable but pointed piece of advice—one that resonates in the age of instant posts and viral outrage.

“Trust me, as someone on social media who the next day wakes up and says, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said that,’ you know, there is a time to type something up, or even handwrite a letter, put it in a drawer and forget about it,” he said. “If it doesn’t bother you in 24 hours, it shouldn’t be put out to the world. I just think as the top boss of the military, inappropriate.”