Trump disputes adviser’s assessment of an alleged Israeli nuclear threat

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, March 16, rejected a claim made by his AI and crypto advisor, David Sacks, about the possibility of Israel using nuclear weapons in the conflict with Iran.

During a White House question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump responded directly when asked about Sacks’s comments suggesting a prolonged war could push Israel toward considering a nuclear strike.

“No, he hasn’t [shared that assessment]. Israel wouldn’t do that. Israel would never do that,” Trump told RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegmann. The response followed remarks made by Sacks on the All-In podcast, where he warned that extended conflict could escalate dramatically if large areas of Israel came under threat.

Rejection of the exit strategy theory

Trump also addressed Sacks’s suggestion that the United States should consider ending its military involvement after weakening Iran’s capabilities.

On the podcast, Sacks argued that Washington could “declare victory and get out” once Iran’s military infrastructure had been significantly damaged.

The President acknowledged that some advisers view an early exit as a strategic option.

However, Trump said leaving the conflict before a definitive outcome could allow Iran to rebuild its military capabilities in the future.

He said previous administrations had faced similar strategic decisions and suggested that some former leaders had later expressed regret for not acting more aggressively at earlier stages.

Warning against regional escalation spiral

Sacks had also raised concerns about the broader regional consequences of a prolonged war.

In his comments, he warned that escalation could damage critical infrastructure across the Gulf region, including desalination facilities that supply water to several countries.

According to Sacks, attacks on such infrastructure could create severe humanitarian and economic consequences across the Middle East. Trump, however, focused his remarks on the current state of military operations.

He said the administration believes sustained pressure is necessary to address what he described as a long-standing security challenge involving Iran.

As the conflict continues into its third week, Trump’s comments signal that the administration is not currently considering the withdrawal approach suggested by some advisers and instead plans to maintain its current strategy.