Trump revives claim Obama sent 'plane loads of cash' to Iran in $1.7B payment: 'That was a disaster'

Donald Trump said without US intervention, Iran would have built nuclear weapons years ago and changed the world with their use
PUBLISHED APR 2, 2026
President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Iran and criticized Barack Obama, claiming he gave Tehran billions under a nuclear deal (Getty Images and AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
President Donald Trump addressed the nation on Iran and criticized Barack Obama, claiming he gave Tehran billions under a nuclear deal (Getty Images and AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)


WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump addressed the nation for around 19 minutes on the night of Wednesday, April 1, mostly discussing the Iran war and why it was important.

During his address, he once again criticized his predecessor, Barack Obama, and claimed that the former president gave Tehran billions of dollars as part of a nuclear deal.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
President Donald Trump arrives to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

Trump calls Obama’s Iran nuclear deal a disaster

“I terminated Barack Hussein Obama’s Iran nuclear deal that was a disaster,” the Republican leader boasted, further asserting that Obama “gave them $1.7 billion in cash, green, green cash. Took it out of banks in Virginia, DC, and Maryland.”

In his speech, Trump also said that the massive amount of money was sent “by airplanes in an attempt to buy their respect and loyalty, but it didn't work. They laughed at our president and went on with their mission to have a nuclear bomb.”

President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

The US commander-in-chief went on to insist that if his administration had not intervened and waged war against Iran, the deal “would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran, and they would have had them years ago, and they would have used them. It would have been a different world.”

“There would have been no Middle East and no Israel right now, in my opinion,” Trump added.

Trump calls Iran nuclear program a 'cancer'

President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

The 79-year-old leader had earlier also criticized Obama, accusing him of giving Iran “the right to have a nuclear weapon at the highest level within a very short period of time.”

“I terminated that agreement as soon as I came to office. If I didn't terminate it, that weapon would have been used a long time ago,” he claimed a few days ago.

Trump even went on to call Iran's nuclear program a cancer, stating, “We had no choice, but I thought it would be much worse... In the short term, what we had to do was get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon. We have cut it out. Now we are going to finish it off.”

RELATED TOPICS US STRIKES IRAN

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'I have great respect for Catholicism, and even if I didn’t, the pope is entitled to his opinion,' John Kennedy said
21 minutes ago
Marjorie Taylor Greene warned that the move could hurt Republicans politically ahead of the midterm elections
48 minutes ago
Kamala Harris accused Donald Trump of weakening alliances, calling his actions distracting and damaging US global credibility
3 hours ago
Former congresswoman joins ‘Butler Truthers’ as GOP accuses FBI of 2024 shooting cover-up
7 hours ago
Speaking at an international gathering, Tim Walz accused the president of leading the US into conflict without a clear objective or exit plan
7 hours ago
VP deputy press sec exits to launch firm as Carlson calls Khamenei strike ‘disgusting and evil’
8 hours ago
Iran asserted control over the Strait as tensions escalated, repeating its position despite concerns about global oil supply
8 hours ago
Trump signed a short-term extension to keep the surveillance program running, averting a lapse and giving lawmakers time to negotiate a long-term deal
9 hours ago
US leaders reviewed military and economic options as Iran-linked activity escalated, signaling readiness for multiple scenarios if tensions persisted
9 hours ago
Graham called for expanded enforcement measures and rejected pressure tied to the Strait of Hormuz, framing the situation as a test of US resolve
11 hours ago