Trump Has Been Clear For 14 Years That Iran Cannot Have A Nuclear Weapon

President Donald Trump has consistently stated for 14 years that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, according to the White House.

“President Donald J. Trump has never wavered in his stance that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon — a pledge he has made repeatedly, both in office and on the campaign trail,” the White House said in a statement.

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The White House listed 15 times Trump said Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon since he began his second term in January 2025, and over 40 times while on the campaign trail or during his first term.

The earliest example listed is from a 2011 tweet, where Trump described Iran’s “quest for nuclear weapons” as “a major threat to our nation’s national security interests.”

Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons is a major threat to our nation’s national security interests. We can’t allow Iran to go nuclear.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2011

In a more fleshed-out explanation of his belief during a 2015 campaign speech in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump said nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue actors pose a grave risk to the United States.

“We have a game changer now, and the game changer is nuclear weapons. We really do have to get strong, and we have to get strong fast. We can’t let Iran get a nuclear weapon. We can’t do it. Can’t do it. We cannot let that happen.”

Trump added that nuclear weapons are not “like soldiers in uniform shooting rifles.”

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“You can take out the east coast of this country,” he said. “You can take out large sections of the Midwest. You can take out things that were unthinkable, the power. And we have to be in a position where that never, ever, ever happens.”

President Trump has been consistent on Iran.

Here is a thread of President Trump opposing Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, dating back to 2011.

— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 17, 2025

Here is the White House’s list of instances where President Trump voiced his opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons:

• “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons are the greatest single threat to our country, but to the entire world.” (11/3/24)
• “I would have been very good to Iran. They — I had to have one thing, no nuclear weapons. You can’t have nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons are the greatest danger to our country going forward, to the world going forward.” (10/29/24)
• “And all I wanted was Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon … That’s all I wanted. Very simple. You can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (10/28/24)
• “We don’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” (10/23/24)
• “I didn’t want much. I wanted Iran to be very successful. I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.” (10/16/24)
• “You can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.” (10/14/24)
• “I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple.” (10/10/24)
• “I only wanted one thing. You can’t have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.” (10/7/24)
• “No, they can’t have nukes. No, they can’t have nukes.” (10/7/24)
• “They can’t have a nuclear weapon — and now they’re very close to having one and it’s very dangerous for the world, very dangerous for the world … The biggest problem today, in my opinion, the biggest risk is the nuclear weapons.” (10/1/24)
• “All I want them to do is not have a nuclear weapon. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (9/30/24)
• “The only thing is [Iran] cannot have nuclear weapons.” (9/26/24)
• “I wanted one thing from Iran — no nuclear weapon. I didn’t want much — no nuclear weapon. And now they’re very close to getting it, and you can’t let that happen.” (9/19/24)
• “All we want is we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. That’s all we want. We don’t want you to have a nuclear weapon.” (9/17/24)
• “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We just can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say this. If they do have a nuclear weapon, Israel is gone. It’ll be gone.” (8/27/24)
• “I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.” (8/23/24)
• “I just wanted to have a deal with Iran, very simple deal — can’t have a nuclear weapon. That’s it.” (8/23/24)
• “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. And we were all set to make sure that they don’t have a nuclear weapon. Because once they do, it’s a whole different world, it’s a whole different negotiation.” (8/15/24)
• “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon — it’s very simple.” (8/8/24)
• “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.” (8/5/24)
• “Iran should not have a nuclear weapon … Iran should never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.” (7/10/24)
• “The main thing is Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. That was my main thing. The deal was a simple deal. Iran can’t have a nuclear. You know, it can’t have a missile, it can’t have a nuclear missile. It cannot have that nuclear capability.” (6/20/24)
• “We have a very hostile country that wants nuclear weapons. You can’t let that happen.” (6/15/24)
• “Iran should not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. They would never have had even close to a nuclear weapon. They are very close to getting a nuclear weapon. You cannot let that happen.” (5/15/24)
• “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon — very simple. They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” (5/1/24)
• “You can’t let Iran have nuclear weapons.” (4/30/24)
• “Iran wanted to make a deal, and what the deal — 90% of the deal that I want to make is no nuclear weapon. That’s 90% — almost 100%. It might be 100%. That’s all I want. No nuclear weapon for Iran” (3/25/24)
• “I want everybody to be happy. They just can’t have a nuclear weapon.” (2/23/24)
• “I just didn’t want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. I said, ‘You know, we’re going to make a great deal. Everybody’s going to be happy. You’re going to be rich as hell again. Everything’s going to be great, but you cannot have a nuclear weapon.’” (1/20/24)
• “They cannot have a nuclear weapon. That was the only thing — the one thing I said, ‘You cannot have.’” (1/5/24)
• “I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.” (1/5/24)
• “They will have, within a short period of time, nuclear weapons — and that is never something that can be allowed to happen.” (12/30/23)
• “No nuclear weapons. You can’t have nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are the single greatest threat to this world.” (11/9/23)
• “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. That’s all. They can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s too destructive, too powerful. They can’t have it.” (10/29/23)
• “Don’t let Iran have nuclear weapons. That’s my only thing I have to tell you today. Don’t let them have it.” (10/16/23)
• “No nuclear weapons. You can’t give [Iran] nuclear weapons.” (7/15/23)
• “You cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let it happen because bad things will happen if that happens.” (6/24/23)
• “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” (1/6/20)
• “Iran cannot have Nuclear Weapons!” (6/22/19)
• “We can’t let Iran get a nuclear weapon. We can’t do it. Can’t do it. We cannot let that happen.” (1/24/15)
• “We can’t allow Iran to go nuclear.” (11/4/11)