Key facts
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apologized for stating no Americans died in the Iran war.
- Lutnick acknowledged that 18 U.S. service members have been killed.
- He explained the error by stating he was thinking of a Venezuelan military operation.
- President Donald Trump defended Lutnick on Truth Social, confirming the 18 deaths in Iran.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apologized for mistakenly stating that no Americans had died in the Iran war, later acknowledging that 18 service members were killed. Lutnick explained the error by stating he was thinking of a previous U.S. military operation in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro with minimal casualties. President Donald Trump defended Lutnick on his Truth Social platform, confirming the 18 deaths in Iran and attributing the commerce secretary's remark to having Venezuela on his mind.
Lutnick's initial comments were made during an interview with CNBC, where he described the Trump administration's approach to Iran as an "economic choke-out." The apology came as Iranian authorities detailed significant casualties from recent U.S. strikes, reporting 18 people killed and 108 wounded. A U.S. Central Command spokesperson stated that the military does not target civilians and that the reports were being reviewed. The strikes reportedly targeted Iranian air defense systems, radar installations, and other military assets near the Strait of Hormuz.
The episode highlights a tension in how the White House is presenting the conflict, framing it in economic terms despite ongoing U.S. military deaths and rising Iranian casualties. Polling indicates a majority of Americans disapprove of the war.