Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Iran’s Ghalibaf Mocks Trump Sanctions With ‘Make America Hungry Again’
Iran and the United States are arguing about sanctions and the strength of their economies.
Donald Trump shared part of a speech by Iranian speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Ghalibaf said Trump left out important context from his words.
He then joked about Trump’s slogan by saying “Make America Hungry Again.”
Ghalibaf also claimed that many people in the United States face hunger and poverty.
Iranian media said he was calling for a stronger economy, rather than saying all Iranians are currently hungry.
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesperson said Iran’s missiles are still working.
He warned that attacks on Iran could lead to strikes against important US energy interests.
Both sides are using strong language to describe their economic and military positions.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked Donald Trump’s sanctions campaign by altering his “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Ghalibaf said Trump shared an edited excerpt of remarks in which he discussed Iran’s economic and security challenges.
He claimed 47 million Americans face hunger and 16 million US children are affected by poverty and rising living costs.
Iranian media said Ghalibaf was emphasizing the need to strengthen Iran’s economy, not describing widespread current hunger among Iranians.
IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi warned that attacks on Iranian infrastructure would trigger strikes against US energy chokepoints and vital interests.
- Who
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Donald Trump, and Hossein Mohebbi, spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- What
- Ghalibaf mocked Trump’s sanctions campaign, while Mohebbi warned of retaliation against US energy chokepoints and vital interests.
- When
- The reaction followed Trump’s reposting of an edited excerpt from Ghalibaf’s remarks; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- The comments were made on social media and during a meeting involving Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople; the meeting’s location is not specified.
- Why
- Ghalibaf was responding to Trump’s use of an edited quote and to US economic pressure on Iran, while Mohebbi was responding to threatened sanctions and possible attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Iranian Position
US Position
Meaning of Ghalibaf’s remarks
Iranian Position
Iranian media said Ghalibaf’s statement about being hungry referred to the need to strengthen Iran’s economy and maintain economic and security power simultaneously.
US Position
Trump shared an edited excerpt that presented Ghalibaf as saying Iran was hungry and unable to resist.
Economic pressure
Iranian Position
Ghalibaf said the United States was using psychological and economic warfare after failing militarily, and argued that Trump could not hide defeats with false claims.
US Position
The United States is pursuing new economic sanctions against Tehran, according to the Iranian accounts.
Potential military consequences
Iranian Position
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said attacks on Iranian infrastructure would prompt heavy strikes against US energy chokepoints and vital interests.
US Position
The articles do not provide a detailed US response to Iran’s warning or independently confirm the alleged US plans and military failures.
- Iranian official
- Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s Parliament
- US slogan reference
- Ghalibaf restyled “Make America Great Again” as “Make America Hungry Again”
- Hunger claim
- Ghalibaf’s graphic claimed that 47 million people in the United States face hunger
- Children affected
- The graphic claimed that 16 million US children face poverty and cost-of-living pressures
- Iranian media’s explanation
- Iranian media said Ghalibaf was urging economic strengthening, not describing current widespread hunger in Iran
- Military warning
- Hossein Mohebbi said attacks on Iranian infrastructure would bring heavy strikes against US energy chokepoints and vital interests
- Missile capability
- Mohebbi said Iran’s missile capability and production remain intact