#hegseth
17 entries with this tag
"If We Need to Negotiate with Bombs, We'll Negotiate with Bombs": Hegseth Pledges Strikes on Key Facilities as U.S. Hits Iran for Second Straight Night
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, leaving CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, told reporters: "If we need to negotiate with bombs, we'll negotiate with bombs. And we're very good at it." The U.S. launched strikes on Iran for a second consecutive night — 49 Tomahawk missiles hitting targets as close as 40 miles from Tehran. The strikes destroyed Iran's water reservoirs in Hormozgan Province, leaving 20,000 people without drinking water in 50°C heat. Weapons experts identified fragments as U.S. GBU-39 munitions. Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Trump from the Situation Room — with Vance, Kushner, and Witkoff — told Fox News: "If Iran doesn't agree to a deal, we'll bomb the shit out of them tomorrow night." He threatened to target bridges and power plants. CPI hit 4.2% — a three-year high driven by war-fueled energy costs. Brent crude: $94/barrel. The April 8 ceasefire is functionally dead. The war Trump said would last four to five weeks is now at fifteen.
The Pattern: U.S. Has Struck Bridges, Water Reservoirs, a Desalination Plant, a School, Hospitals, and Heritage Sites in Iran — Killing Over 1,700 Civilians Including 254 Children
Fifteen weeks into the Iran war, the pattern of U.S. strikes on civilian infrastructure is undeniable. A precision-guided GBU-39 bomb destroyed drinking water reservoirs, leaving 20,000 without water in 50°C heat. A Tomahawk missile killed 120 schoolchildren at a Minab elementary school — Trump falsely blamed Iran. The B1 bridge in Karaj was cut in half, killing 8 civilians who were picnicking under it during Nowruz. A desalination plant on Qeshm Island was destroyed, cutting water to 30 villages. As of April: 1,701 civilians killed, 254 children, 24 health workers. 763 schools damaged. 334 health facilities damaged, 9 hospitals out of service. Trump threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and said "a whole civilization will die tonight." Amnesty: potentially genocide. Over 100 U.S. legal experts said the strikes "could entail war crimes." The U.S. previously accused Russia of war crimes for doing the same thing to Ukraine's power grid.
$32 Million to Destroy a Republican: Trump's Revenge Primary Succeeds — Massie Is Out After 7 Terms
Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated seven-term Rep. Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary in U.S. history ($32M+). Massie's offenses: voting to release Epstein files and voting his conscience. Defense Secretary Hegseth personally campaigned for the challenger. The message to every Republican in Congress: independence from Trump will be punished, at any cost.
"This Is Just Disarray": Pentagon Insiders Sound Alarm as Hegseth Purges Officers With Impeccable Records
Insiders describe the Pentagon as in "disarray" and "an atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust" as Defense Secretary Hegseth has fired or sidelined dozens of senior officers — the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Army Chief of Staff, the Navy Secretary, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Cyber Command chief, the NATO military rep, and more. All during an active war. A current official: "He's just really uncomfortable with anyone who could potentially be outshining him."
"Unacceptable" and "Obscene": Vindman Condemns Trump and Hegseth's Cavalier Attitude Toward U.S. Deaths in Iran
Rep. Eugene Vindman called Trump and Hegseth's attitude toward American casualties in Iran "unacceptable" and "obscene." At least 15 U.S. troops dead, 520+ wounded. Hegseth boasted of "death and destruction from the sky all day long" and said "We are punching them while they're down." Trump joked it was "more fun" to sink warships than capture them. The Pentagon has been accused of hiding casualty numbers.
Hegseth Fires Navy Secretary Phelan — During a Naval Blockade of Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Secretary John Phelan "effective immediately" — while the U.S. Navy is enforcing an active blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The reason: Phelan communicated directly with Trump, which Hegseth saw as bypassing him. Three weeks earlier, Hegseth also fired the Army Chief of Staff during the same war.
Hegseth Quotes Pulp Fiction at Pentagon Prayer Service — Thinks It's the Bible
Defense Secretary Hegseth read Samuel L. Jackson's Pulp Fiction monologue at a Pentagon worship service, calling it "CSAR 25:17" and linking it to Ezekiel 25:17. The Pentagon confirmed the text was "obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction." In Tarantino's film, a hitman recites it before executing people.
Hegseth Accused of Lying to Trump About Iran War Progress — "Not Speaking Truth to the President"
White House officials say Hegseth is feeding Trump false information about the war. He bragged about "complete control of Iranian skies" on March 4. A month later, two U.S. jets were shot out of the sky. Official: "Pete is not speaking truth to the president."
Hegseth Fires Army Chief of Staff During an Active War — Replaced by His Own Former Aide
Hegseth ousted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George during the Iran war and replaced him with Gen. LaNeve — Hegseth's own former military aide. George was the latest in a purge of 12+ senior military leaders. Hegseth wants officers who "implement his vision."
TIME: Hegseth Was "Taken Aback" by Iran's Response — Wiles Ordered Aides to Stop Sugarcoating
TIME reveals Hegseth was stunned by Iran's retaliation: "Whoa, we're really in this now." Wiles warned Trump the war threatens Republican midterms. She ordered aides to be "more forthright with the boss" — an admission they'd been telling him what he wanted to hear.
Hegseth's Broker Tried to Make Multimillion-Dollar Defense Investment Before Iran War
The Financial Times reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth's Morgan Stanley broker contacted BlackRock in February about a multimillion-dollar investment in a defense ETF holding Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Northrop Grumman — weeks before the Iran war. The trade didn't go through only because the fund wasn't available yet.
Hegseth Holds Pentagon Worship Services, Tells Troops Iran War Is "God's Divine Plan"
Defense Secretary Hegseth led evangelical worship services at the Pentagon and told commanders to tell troops "President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon." Over 200 active-duty members reported religious coercion.
"Your Hands Are Full of Blood": Pope Leo Rebukes Hegseth's War Prayers on Palm Sunday
Pope Leo used his first major address to rebuke Hegseth, quoting Isaiah: "Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood." Hegseth had prayed for troops to "rain violence and death on the enemy" in Jesus's name.
Hegseth Personally Struck Black and Female Officers from Promotion List
Hegseth personally removed 2 Black men and 2 women from the Army's brigadier general promotion list after the Army Secretary repeatedly refused. His chief of staff said "Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events."
Pentagon Evicts All Reporters After Judge Strikes Down Press Rules
After a judge ruled the Pentagon's press restrictions unconstitutional — finding they were designed to weed out "disfavored journalists" — Hegseth retaliated by closing the Correspondents' Corridor and removing all media offices from the building.
Hegseth Shared War Plans with Wife and Brother on Signal
Beyond the first Signal leak, Defense Secretary Hegseth shared classified F/A-18 strike schedules in a second Signal chat that included his wife, his brother, and his personal lawyer. The IG found it matched SECRET/NOFORN documents.
Unprecedented Mass Firing of Military Leaders
In a single Friday night, Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the first female Navy chief, and four other top military leaders. Both four-star women officers were removed. Hegseth then ordered a 20% cut to general officer positions.