US commerce secretary erroneously said no Americans have died in Iran war, Trump claims

Donald Trump accused his former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of mistakenly claiming that no Americans had died in the Iran war, alleging Lutnick was distracted by a prior U.S. operation in Venezuela. The president’s claim contradicts the Pentagon’s report of 18 U.S. service‑member fatalities in the conflict, prompting a sharp backlash from officials. As Trump wrestles with the ongoing war’s fallout, the controversy highlights tensions within the administration over how the U.S. is handling the Iran confrontation.

President said Howard Lutnick had Venezuela operation on his mind when he was discussing Iran war on CNBCDonald Trump has claimed his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, erroneously stated that no Americans had been killed in the war with Iran because he was thinking about a previous US operation, in Venezuela.The claim, at odds with the Pentagon’s count of 18 US service members dead in the US-Israel war on Iran, sparked a swift backlash as Trump struggles to end the conflict after six months. Continue reading...