President Donald Trump delivered an unexpected reply to Fox News host Dana Perino when she asked about whether people in Iran have access to basic necessities such as food and water.
Perino appeared surprised after raising concerns about the wellbeing of ordinary Iranians, only for Trump to initially steer the conversation in a different direction.
Speaking during a phone interview on The Five, Perino asked:
“I think it is alarming that we have not been able to see or hear from any of the Iranian people. I imagine that is because their internet is shut down, I think there is some worry about them… do you have any insight into how they are doing? Do they have drinking water? Do they have food?”
Instead of addressing the humanitarian question right away, Trump responded by commenting on Perino’s appearance:
“First, do you remember when we had lunch in the base of Trump Tower, you haven’t changed. You have not changed. I’m not allowed to say this, it’s the end of my political career but you may be even better looking.
“I will not say that because that will end my political career, you’re not allowed to say a woman is beautiful anymore.”
Perino brushed it off with a laugh and credited the network’s styling team:
“Fox hair and makeup has a lot to do with it.”
Trump later circled back to the situation in Iran, describing fear and violence as factors limiting public protests:
“When you look at what has happened, they are petrified, because the one side has guns, and they have very nasty guns, the worst guns and machine guns, and what they do is they shoot you.
”And the people are brave, but they are not brave when they see people going down left and who you are, I don’t care how brave, unless you are really stupid, you can’t really protest, and the only reason they are not protesting is because they are being shot, one after another.
“They are doing it with snipers, where they have snipers and buildings—not that they have to be snipers because they have, you know, free range.”
Separately, earlier this week, reports circulated about an alleged 15-point ceasefire proposal involving Iran.
Initial coverage, attributed to The New York Times, said the reported plan included demands that Iran:
‘dismantle existing nuclear capabilities’
and
‘hand its stockpile of enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency’
among other conditions.
The Wall Street Journal later reported that Tehran had its own proposed requirements, including the closure of all US military bases in the Gulf region, though Iran also publicly denied taking part in any negotiations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt subsequently said the administration had not verified the full set of reported points:
“I saw a 15-point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources. The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.”