Pete Hegseth is being blamed for leading the military into a war that they cannot figure out how to exit.
Posted by The Daily Beast Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Daily Beast PodcastSep 8, 2026
As of early September 2026, sources show critics blaming Hegseth for an Iran war with no clear end or exit, including a former Air Force secretary citing 'no clear exit strategy' and senior officials warning the war cannot be extended indefinitely.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… But then the, the interesting thing is, is this: Donald Trump saying, saying, ah, you know, I wanna know who leaked this. Is this, is he storming around and demanding this, or is Pete Hegsith worried that he, he has to find someone to blame? So this is already beginning to blame him for leading him into a war that they can't figure out how to get out of. And, and again, you know, is he, is he going to be fired? Is he running for president? And are those, um, mutually exclusive, or two of the same things? Item. Well, something for everybody to contemplate over Labor Day weekend. …
The Daily Beast Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. A Raw Story piece dated 2026-09-03 reports that senior military leaders warned Hegseth the US cannot indefinitely extend Iran operations, and that the Navy chief said there is no anticipated end date.[1]
Supports. Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, interviewed in early September 2026, said the Defense Secretary should avoid conflicts 'from which there is no clear exit strategy' and called Hegseth's Pentagon dysfunctional.[2]
Supports. A Newsweek analysis dated 2026-09-03 says Hegseth has not been able to bring the Iran war to a conclusion, and that Republican senators are calling for his removal.[3]
Supports. An Inquirer piece dated 2026-10-01 says Hegseth is leading the military through an unpopular war with no sign of ending, and that his leadership is increasingly questioned.[4]
Context. A WSJ piece dated 2026-09-19 reports critics say he has presided over operations that strained the military in a seven-month war with Iran, while Rep. Don Bacon said he did not think the conduct was impeachable.[5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 tier 3, 3 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1Another horrifying exit should be the last straw for this walking national security crisisrawstory.com · tier 3 · cited for: supports
- 2Hegseth's Pentagon ‘dysfunctional,' says Former Air Force secretarynewsnationnow.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 3Why Donald Trump Is Stuck With Pete Hegseth - Newsweeknewsweek.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Hegseth talks tough as Republican doubts about his ...inquirer.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Hegseth is Trump's untouchable warrior—but his support in Congress is slippingwsj.com · tier 2 · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post