Hegseth downplayed risks of Iran war to Trump before first strike: Sources - CNN The Lead

[Rhiannon12866]

In the immediate lead-up to the first bombs being dropped on Iran last month, Donald Trump met with a small group of advisers to discuss options. He made it clear that he wanted to launch a military campaign alongside Israel, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

It was at that moment, before an operation, that prior defense secretaries would typically stress to the president that there were potential downsides to such a move. In the case of Iran strikes, those would include the likely economic fallout should Tehran retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz and the limits of a military air campaign when it comes to destroying the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium or in fomenting regime change.

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth not only validated Trump’s idea to move forward, he also downplayed the inherent risks of the conflict spiraling out of control, according to three sources familiar with the matter. - Aired on 03/31/2026.

0:00 Tapper reports Hegseth downplayed the risks of war in Iran
1:58 Lt. Gen. Schwartz on 'concerning' reporting, decodes military mobilization in Iran
6:30 Maj. Gen. MacCarley reacts to Hegseth noting 'The upcoming days will be decisive'

[vapor2]

1. Pretty sure he did the same with the Venezuela fishing boats.

War crimes here

[Rhiannon12866]

2. If they ever catch up with the felon-in-chief, he'll spend the rest of his life fighting war crimes