Trump Describes Iran Violence During Oval Office Event With Children

President Donald Trump went from talking about fitness at a youth-focused White House event into a detailed discussion about the conflict in Iran, describing violence that involved protesters with children also present in the Oval Office.

At an event to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test, Trump began to talk about the conflict in Iran with schoolchildren and athletes present. What began as a celebration of youth fitness turned into an exchange with reporters as Trump painted a picture of the unrest in Iran.

Trump was talking about protests when he decided to describe how demonstrations can turn deadly.

“They don’t have any guns. You can have 200,000 people protesting and have five or six sick people with guns, and when they start shooting them right between the eyes, and you see a guy fall, and another one fall, and you have no guns,” he said.

He added, “They killed 42,000 people last month. 42,000 unarmed protesters.”

Trump continued by talking about the unrest that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, though he appeared to misstate the timeline being last year. “Everyone thought that was the end of Iran.”

He added, “And then, suddenly, a woman dropped dead with a bullet right there. Always right there.” He pointed to the middle of his forehead indicating the spot.

At the same time, Trump held back when talking about potential military action that the U.S. might take. He took on a measured tone in front of the children when he shared possible ways forward.

“We don’t want to go in and kill people, we really don’t. I don’t want to. I don’t want to. It’s too tough,” he said. “Great people, I know the people. I have so many Iranian friends… They’re great people. I don’t want to kill those people.”

However, his comments about the "great people" in Iran comes amid uncertainty about the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Reportedly, officials have warned Tehran about planned operations tied to the Strait of Hormuz, and military leaders are ready to continue with the conflict if they are ordered to do so.

Pete Hegseth himself said that Iran would face "overwhelming American firepower" if Iran attacked. “We prefer this to be a peaceful mission, but we are locked and loaded,” he said.

While Trump talked to the press about the conflict in Iran, nuclear weapons, and protesters, the children and athletes remained in the Oval Office. As the reporters asked questions about foreign policy, the president answered while the kids stood by quietly and offered no comments.

At times, it seemed as if the president held back when describing future plans, perhaps taking the kids into account. But at other times, like when he described Amini's death, he didn't. And just like at the White House Easter Egg Roll, a youth-focused event shifted to include political discussions about the conflict in the Middle East.