BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump has dismissed scrutiny over the recent military actions against Iran, which contradict his campaign pledge of “No new wars.” In a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump stated that he “didn’t guarantee” no wars would occur should he be re-elected.
In his remarks, Trump emphasized, “First of all, I didn’t guarantee no war. Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?” He defended the ongoing war with Iran, which has been active since February 28, asserting that it is “not an endless war,” and insisted it is crucial to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
While campaigning for the 2024 election, Trump repeatedly portrayed his Democratic rivals as warmongers and claimed his presidency would usher in peace. However, during the NBC interview, he stated, “I didn’t promise anything,” regarding his commitment to avoiding conflict. He characterized his military operations against Iran as a necessary measure to protect both the United States and the world.
Moreover, Trump reiterated false claims regarding widespread electoral fraud in California's recent primary elections, alleging that Democrats manipulated the vote outcomes. Despite Trump's assertions, a top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles reported that investigations into election fraud are currently underway, though evidence substantiating Trump's claims has not been presented.
During the interview, the former president criticized the normal vote-counting process, which can sometimes lead to shifts in results as delayed ballots are tallied. He claimed these changes signify “cheating” and “a rigged election,” displaying visible frustration when NBC's Kristen Welker pressed him for supporting evidence.
Following these discussions, Trump quickly pivoted to defend a now-abandoned proposal for a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” This initiative was proposed as part of a settlement regarding a lawsuit he filed against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Despite the cancellation of the plan due to concerns about oversight, Trump expressed disappointment at its scrapping, asserting that he believed it was a positive initiative.
When questioned about potential payouts to individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump hesitated, noting, “I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it.” He then veered into misleading comments about those who participated in the riots, despite their actions resulting in significant legal consequences.
The interview, which took place in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, faced interruptions due to heavy rainfall impacting the sound quality of the recording. As the session drew to a close, Welker attempted to shift back to topics regarding the settlement fund and the California elections. However, Trump began criticizing the media, labeling them as “crooked” and asserting his belief in their unfounded assertions about fraud.
Stressing his dissatisfaction with the coverage, Trump ended the interview abruptly, thanking Welker before walking away. Following the encounter, he expressed willingness to conduct another interview pending favorable conditions, indicating he had appreciated the opportunity to discuss various points.
