President Donald Trump publicly commended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for recent strikes against Iran, even as the Pentagon initiates extended troop deployments in the Middle East through 2027. The comments came during a White House Rose Garden speech Wednesday, where Trump stated, "You did a good job in Iran last night, by the way. You knocked the hell out of them." He asserted that the U.S. is "winning that one very big" and described Iran's military capabilities as decimated.
These remarks coincide with the Pentagon's decision to extend troop deployments at Hegseth's request, according to The Wall Street Journal. The plan involves maintaining 50,000 soldiers in the region to support missions such as intercepting missiles and safeguarding commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This extended deployment has drawn criticism regarding the prolonged strain on American service members and their families.
Earlier in the week, the U.S. conducted approximately a dozen strikes targeting Iranian radar systems and military assets along the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported that one strike hit a wedding party, resulting in at least four civilian casualties. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have launched a ballistic missile strike on Camp Titin, a U.S. Marine base in Jordan, though the Pentagon has not confirmed this.
Trump has previously stated that Iran's military has been destroyed and the war is over, despite ongoing exchanges. A 14-point ceasefire mediated by Pakistan in June expired on August 17 without a replacement agreement. The White House is demanding Iran dismantle its nuclear program and surrender its enriched uranium stockpile, while Tehran insists on the U.S. lifting its naval blockade and allowing control of the strait.
Amidst these developments, Hegseth has faced scrutiny, particularly following the resignation of Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. Republican Senator Thom Tillis criticized Hegseth, calling his management "inept" and suggesting Trump seek a new Pentagon leader. Tillis stated Hegseth lacked the "same priorities and forward-thinking" as Driscoll and was contributing to a "void at the top of our military ranks."
Driscoll's departure after 18 months as Army secretary has been linked to reported tensions with Hegseth, including disagreements over personnel matters and the ousting of Driscoll allies. Driscoll reportedly shared his concerns about Hegseth's management of the Army with President Trump prior to his resignation.