Trump With Meloni: 'Iran Can't Have a Nuclear Weapon,' but 'I'm Not in a Rush' (April 17, 2025)

With Italy’s prime minister beside him, President Donald Trump was asked about a report on Iran. “Mr. President, there are reports that Israel—that you waved off an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Can you comment on that? Is that accurate?” a reporter asked [1].

“I wouldn’t say ‘waved off.’ I’m not in a rush to do it, because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death. And I’d like to see that. That’s my first option,” Trump said. “If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran” [1].

The video above shows Trump’s April 17, 2025, remarks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Iran Can’t Have a Nuclear Weapon”

Trump drew one line. “But Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. It’s, you know, pretty simple. It’s really simple. We’re not looking to take their industry. We’re not looking to take their land,” he said [1].

He also praised the Iranian people. “I know the Iranian people. They’re incredible people. Always have been very smart, very energetic, very successful people, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt anybody,” Trump said [1].

”A Terrible Deal”

He went after the Obama-era nuclear deal. “The deal that was made—the deal that was made with Obama, that deal would have expired already. It was a terrible deal,” Trump said. “It was a—it was—would have expired, and that gave them a clear path to a nuclear weapon. I wouldn’t have accepted. That’s why I terminated the deal” [1].

“Number one, it was way too short. You know, when countries are involved, you don’t make short-term deals,” he said [1].

”She Has Taken Europe by Storm”

Trump opened by praising his guest. “In the meantime, it’s an honor to have the Prime Minister of Italy with us, Prime Minister Meloni, who’s doing a fantastic job. I would say that she has taken Europe by storm,” he said [1].

“Everybody loves her and respects her, and I can’t say that about many people,” Trump added [1].

Meloni noted the date. “You know today is April 17, and April 17 marks the anniversary of the agreement that allowed Cristoforo Colombo——” she said, as Trump interjected, “Oh” [1].

”Make the West Great Again”

Meloni borrowed a Trump line. “The goal, for me, is to make the West great again. Okay?” she said. “Okay,” Trump answered. “And I think we can do it together,” Meloni said. “We can,” said Trump [1].

She said she meant more than a map. “When I speak about West mainly, I don’t speak about a geographical space. I speak about the civilization. And I want to make that civilization stronger,” Meloni said [1].

She also pointed to money coming to America. “And the Italian enterprises will invest—as they’ve been doing for many years, as you know—in the next years, I think, around 10 billions,” Meloni said [1].

”They Want to Make Deals More Than I Do”

Asked about trade talks, including with China, Trump said: “No, we’re doing very well with negotiations, I think, with all countries.” [1]

“We have a lot of countries that want to make a deal. Frankly, they want to make deals more than I do,” Trump said [1].

Asked about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s trip to China, he said: “Well, Jensen is an amazing guy. He’s become a friend of mine.” [1]

“Eggs Are All Over the Place”

Trump took on his critics over prices. “And we did an unbelievable job. And now eggs are all over the place, and the price went down 92 percent. And our commissioner of Agriculture, Brooke, has done a fantastic job,” he said, referring to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins [1].

“The only thing that’s gone up, actually, is interest rates, because we have a Federal Reserve Chairman that is playing politics,” Trump said [1].

”Would Have Never Started”

On Ukraine, Trump put the blame on President Joe Biden. “I don’t hold Zelenskyy responsible,” he said, “but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started. That was a war that would have never started if I were President” [1].

“You can blame the man that was sitting in this seat, Biden. He didn’t know what the hell was going on,” Trump said. “If I were President, that war would have never taken place” [1].

He also announced a deal with Kyiv. “Well, we have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday, Scott? Next Thursday?” Trump asked. “Yes,” answered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent [1].

”That Case Is All About Slavery”

Later that afternoon, at an Oval Office signing on commercial fishing with leaders from American Samoa, a reporter brought news. “A short time ago, the Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments in the case about ending birthright citizenship,” the reporter said [4].

“Well, you’re just telling me that for the first time. I am so happy. I think it—the case has been so misunderstood. That case—birthright citizenship—is about slavery,” Trump said. “That’s not about tourists coming in and touching a piece of sand and, all of a sudden, they’re a citizenship—you know, they’re a citizen.” [4]

“And if you look at it that way, the case is an easy case to win,” he said [4].

By the Numbers

3: Iranian nuclear sites the U.S. struck two months later: Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan [2].
65: days from Trump’s “not in a rush” to the strikes [1][2].
40: years, Trump said, that Iran had been saying “Death to America” [2].
13: days from this meeting until Ukraine signed the minerals deal [1][3].

What Happened Next

The minerals deal was signed. On April 30, 2025, Ukraine signed an agreement giving the United States access to its rare minerals. “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump Administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term,” Bessent said [3]. For Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican days before, see HYGO News’ page on Pope Francis’ funeral.

Then came the second option. On June 21, 2025, Trump addressed the nation. “A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” he said [2].

“Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump said. “Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace” [2].

“For 40 years, Iran has been saying: ‘Death to America. Death to Israel,’” he said [2].

The Supreme Court ruled on the birthright case. On June 27, 2025, the Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to federal courts.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the 6-3 majority [5].

For the fighting that began in 2026, see HYGO News’ explainer on war powers and the Iran war.