Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a forceful message Monday as the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its third day, pledging that America’s objective would not devolve into another prolonged nation-building effort overseas.
Standing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine during a joint press briefing, Hegseth made clear that the mission would be guided by an America First approach — and that its ultimate outcome would be determined solely by President Donald Trump.
“There will be no democracy-building quagmire,” Hegseth vowed, rejecting the kind of prolonged engagements that have defined past conflicts. Instead, he insisted that the “conditions” of the conflict’s conclusion would be of President Trump’s “choosing.”
Opening his remarks, the defense secretary sharply criticized Iran’s leadership, describing it as a “crazy” regime that has “waged a savage, one-sided war against America” for 47 years and killed multiple American citizens.
“But under President Trump, we are finishing it,” Hegseth said. “Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their ayatollah and his death cult. It took the 47th president, a fighter who always puts America first, to finally draw the line after 47 years of Iranian belligerence.”
Hegseth emphasized that the president has remained consistent in his stance that regimes like Iran cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
“President Trump has also been very consistent, crazy regimes like Iran, hellbent on prophetic Islamist delusions, cannot have nuclear weapons. It’s common sense. Many have said it, but it takes guts to actually enforce it,” he said.
The defense secretary also offered insight into the scale and intensity of the ongoing military effort, underscoring that the campaign is being carried out on America’s terms.
“America, regardless of what so-called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history, B-2’s, fighters, drones, missiles, and, of course, classified effects, all on our terms with maximum authorities,” Hegseth stated.
He drew a sharp contrast between the current approach and past U.S. military interventions.
“No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars,” he said. “We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives.”
Hegseth acknowledged that the conflict has already resulted in American casualties. As President Trump previously warned, he said, a military effort of this magnitude would inevitably come at a cost.
“As the president warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties. War is hell and always will be. A grateful nation honors the four Americans we have lost thus far and those injured. The absolute best of America,” he said.
Closing his remarks, Hegseth addressed U.S. service members directly, reinforcing that the mission would be carried through decisively and without outside interference.
“We will finish this on America First conditions of President Trump’s choosing, nobody else’s, as it should be,” he said.
As the campaign continues into its third day, the administration is signaling that it intends to prosecute the conflict swiftly and forcefully — without drifting into the kind of open-ended commitments that have defined previous wars.
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