Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth believes that “blowing s*** up” is the best way to keep his job, as he swiftly backed President Donald Trump’s plans to launch an attack on Iran, according to a report.
The Pentagon chief was “one of Trump’s biggest cheerleaders” for pressing ahead with the war in Iran, now entering its fifth week, and “downplayed the inherent risks of the conflict spiraling out of control,” according to a CNN report, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
So far, 13 U.S. troops have died in the Middle East conflict.
Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News host, is as fervent about bombing Iran off-camera as he is during his Pentagon briefings about the war, the network noted.
“He’s very trigger happy,” a source familiar with Hegseth’s current mindset told CNN. A senior White House official reportedly pushed back on the idea that Hegseth has any concern over his job.
Hegseth’s penchant for “blowing s*** up” was on full display at his latest briefing Tuesday, where he gleefully claimed U.S. service members told him: “Get us even more bombs, bigger bombs, more targets.”
“Our strikes are damaging the morale of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing frustrations amongst senior leaders,” Hegseth said. “Just last night, we had 200 dynamic strikes alone.”
Hegseth’s “bombastic” performances during press briefings on the war have helped to bolster his standing following scandals that have dogged his tenure at the Pentagon, namely using the Signal platform to discuss sensitive military operations.
This approach is reportedly going down well with Trump. “The president is very pleased with him, and was before the Iran situation,” the source told CNN.
The Independent has contacted the Pentagon for comment.
Last week it was reported that Trump receives a daily video briefing about the war in Iran curated by U.S. military officials, who show him a reel of “stuff blowing up.”
Trump has been shown a highlight reel, approximately 2 minutes long but sometimes more, every day since the bombing campaign began on February 28, depicting U.S. Central Command striking Iranian equipment and military targets, NBC News reported.
Hegseth was scrutinized last year by lawmakers for ordering missile strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean. On his watch, the Pentagon authorized a second strike on an alleged drug boat on September 2 after two survivors were seen clinging to the wrecked vessel.
The bombing campaign in the Caribbean has so far killed at least 163 people, according to The New York Times.
“If Pete Hegseth wants to blow s*** up without accountability, he can go play a video game, not run our military,” Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada said in January of the strikes in the Caribbean. “As long as he is the Secretary of Defense, he's accountable to the American people and we deserve answers about the strikes he's ordered on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.”
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