Democracy Dies in Darkness

Hegseth’s boastful claims about Iran war contradict reality, officials say

The defense secretary’s portrayal of U.S. success in the conflict risks misinforming the public and the president, observers worry.

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President Donald Trump appears to mimic firing a rifle while speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, standing next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post)
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President Donald Trump has continued to describe the war against Iran as an unqualified success, saying as recently as Monday that the United States was doing “unbelievably well,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tehran had been “embarrassed and humiliated” by U.S. forces.

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What readers are saying

The comments express strong criticism of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, focusing on their perceived incompetence and dishonesty in handling the conflict with Iran. Many commenters accuse Hegseth of providing misleading information and question his... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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John Hudson is a reporter at The Washington Post covering the State Department and national security. He was part of the team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He has reported from dozens of countries, including Ukraine, China, Afghanistan, India and Belarus.@John_Hudson
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Ellen Nakashima is an intelligence and national security reporter at The Washington Post. She's been a member of three Pulitzer prizewinning teams, for probing the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the hidden scope of government surveillance. Send her secure tips on Signal at Ellen.626 @nakashimae
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Tara Copp is a national reporter focused on the military and national security. She has covered U.S. military operations across the globe. @TaraCopp
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