WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump attacked Rep. Ro Khanna twice on Oct. 30 after the California Democrat criticized the cost of the U.S. war with Iran. Trump called Khanna a “lightweight” at the White House and a “total dope” during a rally in Daytona Beach, Florida. Khanna turned the exchange into a broader argument over war spending, oil revenue and Congress’ power to halt future military action.
The Pentagon’s latest estimate put the cost of the conflict at $47.1 billion through Oct. 16. It included about $29 billion to replace expended munitions, $11.9 billion in operating costs and $6.1 billion to replace lost equipment. The estimate did not include damage to U.S. bases from Iranian attacks.
At the White House, Trump defended the spending as necessary to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat. He also said revenue from Venezuelan oil had more than offset the war’s cost, claiming the United States had taken in “hundreds of billions of dollars.” At the Daytona rally, he said Venezuela had brought in about 10 times the amount spent on the war.
Those figures need context. A January executive order describes the Venezuelan oil proceeds in U.S. accounts as Venezuelan sovereign property held in U.S. custody—not revenue belonging to the United States. Public estimates put the proceeds at roughly $13 billion, far below Trump’s “hundreds of billions” claim.
At the rally, Trump also complained that Fox News gave Democrats too much airtime. He said he had watched Khanna on the network that morning and criticized the congressman for raising impeachment over the Iran conflict. Khanna had appeared on “Fox & Friends” earlier that day and discussed impeachment as well as the war.
Khanna replied on X that Trump had mentioned him four times and said he would return to Fox that Sunday. He argued that the $47 billion should go toward jobs and child care, and accused Trump of breaking his promise to keep the country out of foreign wars.
Khanna followed through on the Sunday appearance. He told “Fox News Sunday” that Congress should stop funding any further military action in Iran, comparing the approach to congressional efforts to end the Vietnam War. He also tied the conflict to higher gas and diesel prices. Congress has not enacted a funding cutoff.
The lawmakers also disputed the impact of U.S. strikes. Trump said the campaign had eliminated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity. Khanna argued Sunday that Iran had more capacity to enrich uranium and more control over the Strait of Hormuz than before the strikes. Both statements reflect the speakers’ claims; the cost estimate alone does not settle the dispute over the military campaign’s results.
With Election Day approaching, the exchange has put the war’s price tag and future funding at the center of Khanna’s criticism. Trump has defended the spending as a security necessity; Khanna wants Congress to block money for further military action.
