Secy apologizes for saying no Americans died in war

By Sohail Khan 3 September 2026, 8:02 pm

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Business News›News›International›Global Trends›US Commerce Secy Lutnick apologizes for saying no Americans have died in Iran war

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US Commerce Secy Lutnick apologizes for saying no Americans have died in Iran war
Synopsis

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apologized for stating no Americans died in the Iran war. He acknowledged eighteen service members were killed and expressed sorrow to their families. Lutnick explained he was thinking about a Venezuelan military operation where no service members died. He made the mistaken comments during a CNBC interview on Wednesday. President Trump defended Lutnick, noting the Venezuela confusion and the Iran casualties.

Washington: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apologized on Thursday for stating that no Americans had died in the Iran war, acknowledging that 18 service members have been killed and he was thinking ‌about ⁠Venezuela when ⁠he made the mistaken statement.

"I misspoke. 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," Lutnick said in a post on X.

Lutnick made the ⁠comments during an interview with CNBC on Wednesday in which Venezuela did not come up.

"I think the way the president is playing Iran… There haven't been American deaths. It's really just an economic choke-out, which the administration is now ‌executing more broadly, and I think it'll be very effective," Lutnick told CNBC.

Moments before Lutnick's apology, ⁠Trump defended the commerce secretary on Truth Social.

"Sec. Lutnick had Venezuela on his mind when he said nobody was killed. 18 people were killed in Iran!" Trump wrote.

To date, the U.S. has reported 18 military personnel killed and more than 750 wounded.

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