Nadler Accuses Trump of Misleading Public Over U.S. Deaths in Iran War

U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler accused President Donald Trump on November 13 of misleading the public about American military deaths in the Iran war and disrespecting the service members who died. In a statement on his official account, the congressman described the conflict as an illegal war of choice. His criticism followed Trump’s November 12 interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, in which the president said, “Nobody’s been killed in the last five months.” In the same interview, Trump said the United States controlled the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. He also said he would not hesitate to use further military force against Iran to protect allies and American ships. The Pentagon’s Overseas Operations casualty table, dated November 9, records eight deaths for operations beginning July 7, 2026. It divides those deaths into four hostile and four non-hostile cases. The non-hostile category includes one death from illness or injury and three cases listed as pending. The table also records 450 service members wounded in action. In a separate November 12 interview with broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, Trump defended the campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He identified Israel and the wider Middle East among those the United States sought to protect. He also acknowledged that higher gasoline and oil prices associated with the war may have hurt Republicans politically.