Iran to retaliate on US soil? Trump's ‘I guess’ remark sparks backlash amid Navy strikes

Donald Trump was point-blank asked if he thinks Americans should be worried about being attacked by Iran at home

Published on: Mar 06, 2026 8:28 AM IST

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President Donald Trump was point-blank asked if he thinks Americans should be worried about being attacked by Iran at home, on US soil. He responded with an ‘I guess’ sparking intense backlash from social media commentators. This comes as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday revealed that the US military is striking key Iranian naval vessels.

President Donald Trump smiles with Inter Miami CF owner Jorge Mas Santos as he speaks at an event (AP)

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Trump's ‘I guess’ reaction sparks backlash

Trump was interviewed for the latest Time cover story titled 'Trump's War', which was published on Thursday. Correspondent Eric Cortellessa asked the president about his Iran operation. When asked if Americans should worry about an attack on home soil, the 79-year-old said: “I guess. But I think they’re worried about that all the time. We think about it all the time. We plan for it. But yeah, you know, we expect some things."

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“Like I said, some people will die. When you go to war, some people will die,” he further added.

"He might as well have said, “You and your kids dying is a sacrifice I'm willing to make,” one person reacted to Trump's remark on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Trump couldn’t care less about American citizens. “I guess”?!? “If Americans have to die on American soil to protect my Daddy Bibi, so be it,” another one tweeted.

Trump's comment came days after it was confirmed that six US service members had died during the operation. They have been identified as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa; and Maj. Jeffrey R. O'Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa.

The Pentagon said that Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento is "believed to be" the sixth individual who died.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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