Lutnick’s Gaffe on Iran War Deaths Corrected as Trump Says 18 US Troops Died

A mistaken claim that no Americans had died in the Iran war was corrected by President Donald Trump, who said 18 US service members had been killed. Trump made the statement on Truth Social on Sept. 3, saying Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had been thinking of Venezuela when he said nobody had died.

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Lutnick said nobody had died because he had Venezuela in mind.

Lutnick had made the original comment during a CNBC interview the previous day. He described the Trump administration’s strategy toward Iran as an “economic strangulation operation” and said no Americans had died in the conflict. He also expressed confidence that the strategy would work and that bond markets would respond positively.

The US Defense Department, however, counted 18 military deaths during the war with Iran. Lutnick later wrote on X, “I misspoke,” and added, “18 US service members have died, and I extend my deepest condolences to their families.” He said he had been thinking of the January military operation in which US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Seven US troops were wounded in that operation, but none died.

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Eighteen US service members have died, and I extend my deepest condolences to their families.

Iran’s Health Ministry said US airstrikes on Sept. 1 killed 18 people and wounded 108. The Iranian Red Crescent said an airstrike also hit a wedding venue near the Strait of Hormuz, killing four people and injuring about 60. Children were reportedly among the dead. Reuters said it verified the location of the damaged buildings using satellite imagery.

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I misspoke.

Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said, “The US military does not target civilians,” adding that officials were reviewing related reports carried by Iranian state media.

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The US military does not target civilians.