Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized news coverage of U.S. service members killed in the ongoing war in Iran, saying it mainly serves to make “the president look bad.” His role has become central to the administration’s communication strategy for the war, as the conflict reaches a critical point.
Before the first bombs dropped on Iran last month, Trump met with a small group of advisors to consider military options. Sources familiar with the discussions say Hegseth supported moving forward and downplayed the risks of the conflict getting out of control. No one in that meeting emphasized the potential dangers of starting the war.
