WH maintains Trump consistent in firm stance on Iran nukes — and shows off receipts
The White House is working to show President Donald Trump's consistent stance against Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, as critics emerge from both sides of the aisle. On Tuesday, the White House's rapid response team released a series of 30 clips on X showing Trump's statements over the years on the dangers of Iran getting a nuclear weapon.
In October 2023, just days after Hamas' brutal massacre in Israel, Trump told a crowd at a campaign rally that Iran could not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
"Don't let Iran have nuclear weapons. That's my only thing I have to tell you today. Don't let them have it," Trump said at the Oct. 16, 2023, Iowa rally.
Then in January 2024, Trump said, "I just don't want them to have a nuclear weapon, and they weren't going to have one."
A few months later, in June 2024, during an appearance on the podcast "All-In," Trump told the hosts that Iran could not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
"The main thing is Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. That was my main thing. The deal was a simple deal. Iran can't have a nuclear. You know, it can't have a missile, it can't have a nuclear missile. It cannot have that nuclear capability," Trump told the podcast hosts.
The most recent clip was from May 2025 in which Trump told the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum that "Iran can have a much brighter future — but we'll never allow America and its allies to be threatened with terrorism or a nuclear attack… they cannot have a nuclear weapon."
Vice President JD Vance also commented on the controversy regarding Trump's stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions. Vance defended his boss' Iran position as being focused only on "using the American military to accomplish American people's goals."
He also described Trump as someone who "has been amazingly consistent, over 10 years, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."
"I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use. I've yet to see a single good argument for why Iran was justified in violating its non-proliferation obligations. I've yet to see a single good pushback against the IAEA's findings," Vance wrote on X.
Although the White House team's clips date back to 2023, there is even earlier evidence that Trump was against Iran having a nuclear weapon.
In 2018, during his first term in office, Trump withdrew from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). At the time, Trump called the JCPOA "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."
The White House release on the U.S. withdrawal from the deal has several references to Trump's opposition to Iran developing a nuclear weapon. At one point it says that "Trump is committed to ensuring Iran has no possible path to a nuclear weapon."
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Guarded by a unit no one knew existed, Khamenei lives in fear
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Advantages of Social Security Privatization, According to Experts
Social Security privatization would shift retirement funding from the government to individual Americans. Proponents of privatization believe it can lead to higher investment returns, thus providing retirees with more money in retirement. For some, the focus on personal responsibility is key. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › If you want to get people worked up, ask a small group of friends what they think of Social Security privatization. Privatization refers to the idea of shifting the management and funding of retirement from the government to individuals. In other words, rather than paying Social Security taxes as part of FICA, you would keep the money and invest for retirement on your own. Experts have dramatically different opinions on privatization, with some fearing that it will lead to more people entering retirement with little to no financial resources. Those arguing in favor of privatizing the program take a completely different view. Here's how they believe the change would benefit the average American worker. Imagine that a portion of your Social Security taxes were invested in a personal account rather than used to fund current retirees' benefits. You could invest in stocks and bonds to your heart's content. In fact, you could invest in any vehicle you believe will provide a strong return. One of the beauties of investing is the way compound interest can significantly increase your retirement savings over time. As long as you begin investing early and are consistent, proponents of privatization believe you're in a position to build up more money than you could ever collect through Social Security payments. Proponents believe that Americans will appreciate the ability to invest their retirement savings where they want. Rather than paying it into a program supporting current retirees, they can choose where their money will go. However, the open question becomes: What happens to the millions of current retirees when workers stop paying into the system? Read any message board, and you're likely to find plenty of people with an opinion about Social Security privatization. It's been a hot-button topic since President George W. Bush first suggested it in his 1978 Congressional race, then pushed for it again following his successful 2004 presidential campaign. Since that time, the subject has been supported by a rotating cast of politicians, who claim it will put the responsibility for saving on individuals rather than allowing them to depend on the government to provide a safety net. While this reasoning overlooks the fact that Americans spend decades contributing to the system and Social Security has never been a public assistance program, it does appeal to the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" crowd. Proponents believe that pushing Americans to invest on their own means greater financial literacy among the masses. It's also believed that it will foster a culture of savings and investment. While this may be true for some, it's fair to imagine that wealthier Americans can afford to pay financial planners to help them make the most of their investments, while workers living paycheck to paycheck may have trouble saving the funds at all. It's likely that most people would like to save for retirement, but not everyone can afford to do so. The good news is that plenty of people are actively involved in seeking a solution to potential Social Security shortages. It may turn out that some form of Social Security privatization -- such as a hybrid system that allows you to continue paying into the current system while setting aside some money to make your own investments -- will be the answer. Or, it may be something entirely different. While proponents of Social Security privatization offer numerous potential advantages, it's yet to be seen if anyone will come up with a better solution. If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Advantages of Social Security Privatization, According to Experts was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
