US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick issued a public apology on Thursday after incorrectly claiming that no Americans had died during the current conflict with Iran. During an appearance on CNBC, Lutnick defended the administration’s strategy by suggesting the engagement had been primarily an economic effort rather than a lethal one. He told viewers that under the president’s leadership, there had not been any American deaths, describing the situation as an economic chokeout designed for maximum effectiveness.

The assertion stood in stark contrast to official records showing that 18 US service members have been killed since attacks began in February, with hundreds more sustaining injuries. Taking to X on Thursday morning, Lutnick admitted he had misspoken and explained that he had confused the ongoing Iranian conflict with a previous short lived operation in Venezuela where no casualties occurred. In his statement, he expressed deep regret and noted that his heart broke for the families of those who lost their lives.

President Donald Trump attempted to manage the fallout early Thursday via Truth Social, acknowledging the error before Lutnick’s own formal apology went live. The president clarified that while eighteen people were killed in Iran, Lutnick simply had Venezuela on his mind at the time of the interview. This incident comes amid growing tension between the administration and critics regarding transparency over military casualties.

The controversy follows recent scrutiny over how the Pentagon reports losses in the region, specifically following allegations that several deaths and injuries vanished from a Defense Department website back in July. These tensions have been echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously dismissed media focus on service member fatalities as overly dramatic reactions to isolated incidents like drone strikes.