Trump says 'Israel', protected allies must reimburse US for Iran war costs
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US President Donald Trump stated in a CBS News 60 Minutes interview that 'Israel' and other US-protected allies will be required to reimburse Washington for "any and all costs" incurred during the war with Iran.
Speaking with interviewer Ross Douthat following Republican losses in the US midterm elections, Trump said that the financial burden of the military campaign would not fall on American taxpayers.
"At the end of this whole thing, those countries that we've protected are going to pay us back any and all costs that we've had for the war," Trump said. "We're gonna get all that money back. And I've told 'em, and they're gonna do it, 100%, 'cause without us, they wouldn't exist. Without us, Israel wouldn't exist."
Trump cited American strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, claiming the operation eliminated Tehran's strategic capabilities and preserved regional allies.
"We decapitated their nuclear arsenal," Trump said. "If I didn't do that, there would be no Israel right now. Israel would be gone."
