US President insists Washington has already destroyed Tehran in a “very conventional way”
Donald Trump has hit back at a reporter who asked if his threats to destroy Iran’s power plants, bridges and entire civilization meant he was ready to use a nuclear weapon, dismissing the question as “a fool.”
The exchange took place at the White House on Thursday, where a reporter recalled Trump’s April 7 warning that “All civilization will die tonight, never to return” if Tehran did not accept its terms, the rhetoric was widely condemned as apocalyptic and the possibility of genocide.
“Why should such a stupid question be asked? Why should I use a nuclear weapon when we have completely destroyed them without using them in a conventional way? No, I would not,” Trump said and added that a “Nuclear weapons should not be allowed to be used by anyone.”
.@POTUS to Jim Acosta’s girlfriend (@ElizLanders) when he asks one of the stupidest questions ever – whether he would use a nuclear weapon on Iran: “Why should such a stupid question be asked?… No, I wouldn’t. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anyone.” pic.twitter.com/U235920fwD
– Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
The US president used the opportunity to brag once again about the extent of US military damage against Iran, while suggesting that any of Tehran’s weapons during the ceasefire could be removed. “about a day” if necessary. He also said he could make a plan once, but he wanted one that was “forever.”
“I want to make a better deal. I can make a deal right now… but I don’t want to. I want to have it forever,” Trump said.
Washington extended the ceasefire earlier this week, expecting a “unity” proposal from Tehran, while keeping the US blockade of Iranian ports in place, even as follow-up talks with Tehran stalled and tensions continued near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has made it clear that there is no concrete timetable for ending the war, telling Fox News on Wednesday that there was “there is no time,” and asked the critics not to do so “fast” again on Thursday.
At the same time, the Iranian army has said that it is ready to fight the United States “to complete victory.” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of trying to turn the talks into “surrender table,” adding that the conversation with a “Complete ceasefire” it would make sense if they were not violated by the maritime barrier.
“They could not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor through oppression. The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation,” Ghalibaf wrote on X on Thursday.
