With the Iran ceasefire crumbling, Trump drove to a construction site and asked workers if Iran should have a nuclear weapon

President Donald Trump made a surprise visit to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool construction site where workers are currently resurfacing the pool. During the visit, Trump spoke directly with the crew about the ongoing conflict with Iran, which had seen U.S. Navy forces and Iranian forces exchange fire earlier that day in the Strait of Hormuz. The unexpected stop drew significant attention given the serious geopolitical situation unfolding at the same time.

Trump asked the group of workers, “Does anyone think Iran should have a nuclear weapon?” The workers responded with a clear “no,” shaking their heads. Trump then told the crew, “These guys work so hard to make things beautiful. We’re not going to let a nuclear weapon ruin it.” The workers also agreed when Trump described the ongoing military efforts as “very important,” showing broad support for the president’s position among the crew.

This was not the first time Trump has asked everyday people for their opinions on the Iran conflict while cameras were rolling. On Wednesday, he asked UFC fighter Justin Gaethje about it during a White House visit. According to The Independent, Gaethje said the U.S. was in “fantastic shape” when it came to the negotiations, echoing the administration’s tone of confidence on the matter.

Trump’s site visit mixed light-hearted moments with serious warnings over Iran’s nuclear ambitions

Trump was joined at the Lincoln Memorial by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and border czar Tom Homan. The group accompanied the president as he walked through the construction site and interacted with the workers. At one point, Trump asked, “Tom, how good a president is Trump?” Homan replied, “Greatest president in my lifetime.”

Homan also joked about the immigration status of the workers, asking, “Are you all legal?” Following some laughter, Trump noted that since the workers were from Oklahoma, “The answer is probably yes.” It was a lighthearted exchange, though it touched on one of the administration’s key policy priorities. Trump previously won Oklahoma with more than 65 percent of the vote in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections.

When reporters asked Trump about the state of negotiations with Tehran, he said a deal “could happen any day, and it might not happen.” He also warned that if no peace agreement is reached, Iran will face “a lot of pain.” 

Trump added that even when Iran agrees to something, it does not always follow through, saying, “When they agree, it doesn’t mean much, because the next day they forget they agreed.” His comments suggested that the administration remains skeptical about Iran’s willingness to commit to any lasting deal.

The visit also got tense when reporter Rachel Scott asked Trump why he was focusing on renovations in Washington while gas prices were rising. Jet fuel costs have also surged since the start of the Iran war, adding further financial pressure on everyday Americans. Trump shot back at Scott, “Our country is about beauty, cleanliness, safety, great people. Not a filthy capital. That’s such a stupid question that you asked.”

Despite the earlier clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, where U.S. Navy ships came under Iranian attack as U.S. destroyers intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, Trump maintained that the ceasefire was still in place. He wrapped up the visit by shaking hands with the construction workers and giving them presidential challenge coins. The reflecting pool resurfacing is part of a wider effort by Trump to renovate parts of Washington D.C.