Trump’s NBC “Meet the Press” Interview Fact-Checked

President Donald Trump used a Sunday “Meet the Press” interview to defend his positions on Iran, gas prices, the Jan. 6 attack and California elections, while making several claims that were false, misleading or overstated.

On Iran, Trump said his decision to cancel the 2015 nuclear deal and order U.S. strikes in June 2025 prevented Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon and “obliterated” an Iranian nuclear site. But U.S. intelligence had assessed in March 2025 that Iran had not yet decided to build a bomb, even though it had large uranium stockpiles. NBC News also reported that the strikes severely damaged one enrichment site but left two others less affected. Experts say that even if Iran had enough weapons-grade uranium, building a deliverable warhead would likely still take months or longer.

Trump also said Iran’s navy, air force and air defenses were “gone” after U.S. attacks. That is exaggerated. Pentagon assessments have indicated the U.S. destroyed much of Iran’s conventional navy and missile infrastructure, but NBC News reported that a significant portion of Iran’s unconventional naval force remains intact.

Pressed on his 2024 campaign promise not to start new wars, Trump said he had not guaranteed “no war.” But during the campaign and after his election, he repeatedly said he would not start a war and would stop wars.

On gas prices, Trump suggested they would fall quickly once a deal is reached. Oil executives, however, have said reopening supply lines and rebuilding inventories would take time, meaning price relief would not be immediate.

Trump also defended the Justice Department’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund for allies he says were harmed by political investigations. But the department told a court the fund is not moving forward, even though future payouts could still be possible through other means.

On Jan. 6, Trump rejected the idea that rioters who assaulted police should receive any funds, though he said he would need to “see it.” He also claimed FBI agents ushered people into the Capitol. There is no evidence that special agents did so. A Justice Department inspector general report found that several FBI informants were present, but not under instructions to enter the building.

Trump further claimed California’s recent primary elections were “rigged.” There is no evidence of fraud. The state’s slow count reflects its mail-in voting system, where ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted later after verification.