Donald Trump Publicly Blames Pete Hegseth for Starting Iran Conflict

. . .The discussion started on local safety issues but quickly turned to the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran. Trump began recounting how he had gathered his top officials weeks earlier to talk about Iran’s nuclear program and its history of supporting terror.

He described weighing options like more sanctions or direct action. Then he turned to Hegseth and delivered the line that made headlines. “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up,”

Trump said. “And you said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.” Hegseth stayed quiet as the room absorbed the words. . .

BREAKING: TRUMP BLAMES PETE HEGSETH FOR THE IRAN WAR:

"Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up. You said, 'Let's do it.'"
pic.twitter.com/W1rwWD8NaO

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) March 23, 2026

The next day, March 24, Trump doubled down during another event at the Oval Office after swearing in a new official. He said Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen.

Dan Caine were the only two people disappointed that talks with Iran might lead to a quick settlement. “Pete didn’t want it to be settled,” Trump stated. “They were not interested in settlement. They were interested in just winning this thing.” (Read more from “Donald Trump Publicly Blames Pete Hegseth for Starting Iran Conflict” HERE)