U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appeared visibly uncomfortable after Donald Trump suggested that the ongoing conflict with Iran was largely his idea.
The U.S. and Israel have been carrying out strikes on Iran since February 28, targeting key infrastructure, military sites, and senior officials — including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In the latest developments, the U.S. military is preparing to deploy around 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press. The troops are expected to be sent in the coming days, a person familiar with the plans said.
At the same time, the conflict has drawn widespread international criticism, with experts warning that continued instability in the region could lead to serious global economic consequences.
“You were the first one to speak up”
Speaking at a Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable in Tennessee on March 23, Donald Trump recalled internal discussions as tensions in the Middle East escalated.
“I called a lot of our great people… and I said, ‘Let’s talk. We’ve got a problem in the Middle East. We have a country known as Iran that, for 47 years, has been a purveyor of terror, and they’re close to a nuclear weapon,’” Trump said.
He then turned to Hegseth and added:
“And Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. And you said, ‘Let’s do it, because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.’”
As the comment landed, Hegseth briefly smiled — but his expression quickly shifted as Trump looked away, creating an awkward moment that didn’t go unnoticed.
Trump continued:
“I think they’re very good. They want peace — they’ve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon, you know, etc., etc., but we’ll see. You have to get it done. But I would say there’s a very good chance.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has emerged as one of the most forceful voices during the conflict with Iran, adopting an aggressive and unapologetic tone as the administration’s de facto spokesperson.
A military veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth has leaned into combative rhetoric, repeatedly framing the operation as a decisive and necessary show of strength. He has described Operation Epic Fury as “crushing the enemy,” referring to Iranian forces as “terrorist cowards.”
He doubled down on that message, adding: “We are punching them while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be.”
Economic fallout already being felt
President Donald Trump has outlined five key goals the U.S. hopes to achieve before ending its war with Iran. However, as he suggests the operation could soon be “winding down” after more than three weeks, several of those objectives remain unclear or unmet.
The economic impact of the conflict is already rippling across the U.S.
Mortgage rates have climbed to around 6.22%, driven by concerns that rising oil prices could push inflation higher. Meanwhile, global markets continue to react to uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Trump previously addressed oil prices on Truth Social, revealing that he had temporarily lifted a ban on Iranian oil — a move that briefly lowered prices before they began rising again.
Hegseth, for his part, has defended the ongoing military campaign and the massive funding required to sustain it.
“As far as $200bn, I think that number could move,” he said. “Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys.”
He added:
“We’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future.”
