Fox Talker Mark Levin has once again suggested that the United States must use nuclear weapons against Iran, citing World War II as justification for such an action. Speaking on his Life, Liberty, and Levin Fox program, Levin stated: “The Iranian regime is not going to surrender, it is never going to surrender.” He then asked, “Remember Japan?”
Levin’s comments follow President Donald Trump’s public acknowledgment that he has been influenced by the talk show host in his decision-making. The president has described Levin as a “great American patriot” who is “far smarter” than critics.
However, military historians note that top U.S. commanders during World War II did not support the use of atomic weapons against Japan. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as Supreme Allied Commander and later became president, wrote in his memoir Mandate for Change: “I was against it on two counts: first, the Japanese were ready to surrender; second, I hated to see our country be the first to use such a weapon.” Eisenhower’s concerns were raised during meetings with War Secretary Henry Stimson.
Similarly, Admiral William Leahy, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II, stated in his memoir I Was There that the atomic bombings “were of no material assistance” and that Japan was “already defeated and ready to surrender.” Admiral Bull Halsey described the first atomic bomb as an “unnecessary experiment.”
Levin has previously cited casualty figures from World War II battles such as the Battle of the Bulge and Okinawa, but these references have been criticized by military historians who argue that nuclear weapons were not necessary at the time.
The article notes that Levin and Trump share a close relationship, including an incident on December 16, 2025 when Trump allowed Levin to put him in a virtual headlock at the White House. Levin recently referred to Trump as “the first Jewish president to serve two terms,” a comment Trump endorsed.
In response to criticism from America First podcaster Megyn Kelly, Trump defended Levin’s views by stating: “Mark is Tough, Strong, and Brilliant… MAGA includes not allowing Iran, a Sick, Demented, and Violent Terrorist Regime, to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
R. Cort Kirkwood, a former newspaper editor, provided the historical context for this article.
