Veteran journalist Geraldo Rivera has characterized former President Donald Trump's recent threat to annihilate Iran's civilization as exaggerated rhetoric, suggesting the Pentagon would never authorize such extreme action.
Rivera made his comments during an appearance on "TMZ Live," where he analyzed Trump's statement that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran didn't agree to a ceasefire by 8 PM Eastern Time. The threat specifically targeted power plants and civilian infrastructure.
"It's alarming language, but I believe he's being bombastic," Rivera said, drawing from his personal experience with Trump during their time on 'Celebrity Apprentice.' "The Department of War would never authorize strikes on civilians as would be required to destroy an entire civilization."
Rivera expressed confidence that Trump doesn't actually plan to use nuclear weapons against Iran, despite the apocalyptic language. He acknowledged that war represents an imperfect method for promoting democracy in Iran but argued that removing the current regime might require force.
While Rivera believes the Iranian people might welcome U.S. intervention, his co-hosts expressed skepticism about whether citizens would embrace a campaign that threatens their entire civilization.