Howard Lutnick apologizes after saying no U.S. deaths in Iran war
· Toronto Sun
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Visit newsbetting.bond for more information.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has issued an apology a day after saying the military had suffered no deaths in the Iran war.
Lutnick attended the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Wednesday and was interviewed by CNBC when he claimed that no members of American forces were killed while defending the six-month war.
“There haven’t been American deaths,” he said . “It’s really been an economic choke-out.”
Howard Lutnick on the Iran War:
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) September 3, 2026
“There haven’t been American deaths. It’s really been an economic choke-out.”
As of Thursday morning, the Department of Defense reports that 18 U.S. service members have died in the war with Iran. pic.twitter.com/ZnI2Qz1Lqh
According to the U.S. Department of Defence, 14 servicemembers have lost their lives in Operation Epic Fury while the Pentagon says another four died following Iranian missile attacks at American bases in Jordan and Iraq.
President corrects Lutnick
Trump sought to brush aside any criticisms by posting on his Truth Social account the number of deaths the U.S. has suffered so far in the war.
“Sec. Lutnick had Venezuela on his mind when he said nobody was killed,” Trump wrote at approximately 7:30 a.m. EDT. “(Eighteen) people were killed in Iran!”
Less than an hour later, Lutnick posted an apology on his X account.
“While speaking (Wednesday) at the G20 innovation summit about AI, I answered a question about the military actions in Iran, I misspoke,” he wrote .
“(Eighteen) members of our military have died, and to those families my heart breaks and I am so very sorry for their loss. I was thinking about the Venezuelan military operation where no service members died.”
While speaking yesterday at the G20 innovation summit about AI, I answered a question about the military actions in Iran, I misspoke. 18 members of our military have died, and to those families my heart breaks and I am so very sorry for their loss. I was thinking about the…
— Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) September 3, 2026
Lutnick also said he is “deeply thankful” for the sacrifices of the men and women who put on the uniform to protect the U.S. as the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches.
He lost his brother Gary at the age of 36 and best friend Doug, who was 39, as well as 656 other close friends and colleagues in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Unpopular war at home
The Trump Administration has been criticized for how unpopular the war with Iran has been despite killing Ali Khamenei, the country’s now former Supreme Leader, in a military strike on Feb. 28.
A recent poll found more than two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war as food and gas prices have increased this year due to shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz affecting the price of oil.
Last month, the Center for American Progress, an independent, nonpartisan policy institute, calculated that the war with Iran has cost each U.S. household at least $1,200 (C$1,655).
While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has estimated that the cost of the war to be about $37.5 billion, the think tank says the total expenditures are between $34 billion and $42 billion as of June 23, which includes deployments, munitions, equipment loss and damage, fuel, security, and other costs.