Former MSNBC host Joy Reid sparked a contentious debate on CNN’s “Newsnight” on June 24, 2025, when she defended Iran’s nuclear ambitions during a panel discussion about President Donald Trump’s recent military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The heated exchange highlighted deep divisions over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and drew sharp criticism from fellow panelists.
Reid argued that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons was a defensive response to what she characterized as Israeli aggression in the region. She contended that Iran and Saudi Arabia were seeking nuclear capabilities because “an expansionist power in their region keeps threatening them and actually bombs them.” The former television host questioned why Israel should possess nuclear weapons while Iran faces restrictions, noting that Israel does not subject its nuclear program to International Atomic Energy Agency oversight.
The discussion occurred following Trump’s weekend airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which the White House claimed significantly damaged the country’s nuclear program. However, CNN reported that early Pentagon Defense Intelligence Agency assessments suggested the strikes did not destroy the core components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, contrary to administration assertions.
CNN contributor Brad Todd challenged Reid’s position by citing Iran’s extensive attacks on U.S. forces, noting that Iran-backed militias had targeted American personnel 170 times in Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Todd referenced former President Joe Biden’s previous authorization of F-15 strikes against Iran in response to these attacks. Reid dismissed Biden as a moral authority, stating he had allowed Israel to conduct unrestricted operations against Palestinians in Gaza.
Host Abby Phillip intervened during the exchange, emphasizing that the issue extended beyond nuclear weapons to Iran’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism. Phillip reminded Reid that Iran supports “chaos and violence and death around the world,” attempting to redirect the conversation toward broader security concerns.
The debate intensified when panelist Arthur Aidala criticized Reid for defending a country that executes gay people and persecutes religious minorities. Reid responded by drawing comparisons between Iran’s treatment of LGBTQ individuals and current U.S. policies under Trump, arguing that gay Americans face discrimination including military service restrictions. When Aidala pointed out that the U.S. does not execute gay people, Reid maintained that America was not a beacon of rights for gay people, citing persecution and restrictions on LGBTQ stories in schools.
Aidala called out Reid for equating gay rights in the United States with the situation in Iran, where homosexuality is punishable by death. The exchange highlighted fundamental disagreements about American foreign policy and domestic civil rights issues among the panelists.
Reid’s controversial stance echoed similar comments made by “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg, who recently suggested the U.S. in 2025 was equivalent to Iran for Black Americans. When challenged by co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin about the differences between living in America versus Iran, Goldberg insisted the comparison was valid for Black people, with Sunny Hostin adding that the parallel applied to others as well.
The former MSNBC host’s appearance on CNN comes after her show was canceled earlier this year. Reid has speculated that her coverage of Gaza and repeated criticism of Trump contributed to her firing from the network. During a subsequent appearance on “The Joy Reid Show,” liberal commentator Elie Mystal echoed Reid’s anti-American sentiment, telling her that the U.S. “should be sanctioned and rebuked” for military actions in Iran.
Mystal argued that America had become a “menace to not only free people everywhere, but peaceful people everywhere” and called for international sanctions similar to those imposed on North Korea. He criticized what he termed “illegal unnecessary bombings in Iran” and suggested the international community should treat the United States as a rogue state despite its economic power and global trade relationships.
The CNN panel discussion reflected broader debates about American foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear program and regional security concerns. Trump’s recent military actions against Iranian facilities occurred amid ongoing tensions following a brief 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which ended with a ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration.
Reid’s defense of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and criticism of Israeli policy generated significant controversy, with critics arguing that her position ignored Iran’s support for terrorist organizations and human rights violations. The heated exchange demonstrated the polarized nature of current foreign policy discussions and the challenges facing media personalities navigating complex international issues.