President Donald Trump laid out the administration’s current foreign policy and domestic economic outlook during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, touching on ongoing negotiations with Iran, the conflict’s ripple effects on American energy, and the financial pressures facing domestic farmers.
Speaking with moderator Kristen Welker, President Trump shared his assessment of Iran’s new leadership following recent military actions. When asked if the younger Khamenei, son of the previous Supreme Leader, represents a better prospect for U.S. relations, Trump described him as “more rational” despite suffering severe injuries.
“He’s pretty badly injured. So there’s a certain bravery there,” Trump stated, adding that most people facing similar medical circumstances would not be focused on international relations.
The conversation also focused on the regional footprint of a potential short-term deal with Iran. Trump clarified that he is not making the inclusion of Lebanon a mandatory condition for the agreement.
“I’m not at all. I’m not demanding. I think they’d like to see it, but I’m not demanding,” he said. He advocated for more targeted operations against Hezbollah, stating, “I’d like to see a more surgical attack on Hezbollah.” Trump also pointed to regional dynamics, asserting that Syria has a “very good leader” who has made rapid progress and would be willing to assist in regional stabilization.
Domestically, Welker highlighted a recent jobs report that showed 170,000 jobs created, beating market expectations. Trump countered that the numbers were actually “really strong” and tripled expectations, though Welker noted that the prices of gasoline and diesel fuel continue to climb. Trump attributed the current energy strain entirely to ongoing geopolitical conflict, stating, “It’s all coming down as soon as the war’s over.”
The rising cost of energy has directly impacted American agriculture, with Welker pointing out that 70 percent of farmers report they can no longer afford fertilizer. Trump pushed back on the assertion that farmers are struggling, stating, “The farmers are doing very well,” and emphasizing his strong political support among the demographic. He referenced his first term, noting he distributed $28 billion in federal aid to farmers using funds collected from tariffs on China.
Trump explained that current economic conditions are a temporary byproduct of a deliberate national security choice to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“We’re going to have higher gasoline. We’re going to have a little higher fertilizer,” Trump acknowledged, framing the costs as a necessary tradeoff. “But I’m going to get rid of a nuclear weapon in the hands of very dangerous people.” He noted that before military action commenced against Iran, gasoline in states like Iowa ranged from $1.85 to $1.91 per gallon, promising that prices will “drop like a rock” once the current operations wrap up.
When asked directly if his administration knows the exact location of all Iranian nuclear material, Trump responded, “Yes.”
Regarding the mechanics of any upcoming diplomatic agreement, Trump ruled out upfront economic concessions, stating he would not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions before a deal is finalized. He confirmed that relief would only follow after Iran surrenders its enriched material.
“Comes after. Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking,” Trump said. He contrasted this approach with former President Barack Obama’s administration, criticizing the past decision to transfer $1.7 billion in cash and billions more in overall assets to Iran, concluding that such strategies never succeed.
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