President Donald Trump said on April 6 that Americans who oppose the ongoing war with Iran are “foolish,” arguing that the conflict is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to protect Israel from what he described as an existential threat. The remarks came during an extended exchange with reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll, where Trump also defended the military campaign and asserted continued support from his political base.
Responding to a question about critics of the war effort, Trump framed opposition as a misunderstanding of the stakes involved. “They’re foolish because the war is about one thing. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. He tied the current conflict to his earlier decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, stating, “Had we not broken the Barack Hussein Obama agreement… you would have had a total Israel would have been gone, extinguished. Israel would have been wiped off the face of the earth and the entire Middle East would have been at a minimum in big trouble.”
Reporter: What do you say to Americans who are not a fan of the war?
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 6, 2026
Trump: They are foolish. pic.twitter.com/uwz0KJUdXs
Trump also pointed to earlier actions taken during his presidency, including the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, as part of what he described as a broader strategy to weaken Iran. He said those steps contributed to the current state of the conflict, adding that without them, “it would have been harder” to achieve current military objectives. He described ongoing operations in harsh terms, stating, “we are obliterating that country,” while also indicating that Iran has continued to resist capitulation.
In outlining potential consequences if the conflict continues, Trump suggested further destruction of Iranian infrastructure. “If they don’t, they’ll have no bridges, they’ll have no power plants. They’ll have no anything,” he said, adding that additional measures could be taken beyond those already discussed. He also raised the prospect of seizing Iranian oil resources, saying, “If I had my choice, what would I like to do? Take the oil because it’s there for the taking. There’s not a thing they can do about it.”
At the same time, Trump acknowledged a divide between his position and broader public sentiment regarding the duration of the war. “Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home,” he said, suggesting that while there is support for the objectives of the conflict, there is also a desire for it to conclude. He reiterated that tension later in the exchange, noting that supporters “would like to see it end and come back,” even as they continue to back the administration’s actions.
Trump also rejected claims that the war has weakened his standing among supporters aligned with the MAGA movement, pointing to polling he said demonstrated unanimous approval. “I’m not losing MAGA. MAGA loves what I’m doing,” Trump said, referencing what he described as a “100% support” result among that segment of voters. He argued that this level of backing reflects broader Republican alignment behind the war effort, even as debate continues over how long U.S. forces should remain engaged in the conflict.