On December 29, 2025, at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as tensions with Iran loomed. During the remarks, Trump warned that if Tehran attempts to rearm its nuclear or ballistic-missile programs, the United States would strike again, saying ‘we’ll knock them down’ and suggesting that Iran would be better off negotiating a deal.
The statement comes amid renewed U.S.-Israel consultations on confronting Iran’s missile and nuclear ambitions, with Netanyahu pressing for action.
Iran responded through Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, who stressed that Iran’s missile program is defensive and non-negotiable, signaling that Tehran will not accept concessions on that front.
Analysts say the exchange underscores ongoing regional tensions and the administration’s willingness to signal deterrence, even as it pursues diplomacy on a broader set of security concerns.