John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needed to “adjust his attitude” after briefing on the attack against Iran.
Earlier Monday, Hegseth, along with Gen. Dan Kaine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed reporters on the joint U.S.-Israeli attack that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
Heggs claimed that the conflict was “not a so-called regime change war” but noted that “regimes do change and the world is better for it”. He said the goal of the operation was to “destroy Iran’s offensive missiles, destroy Iran’s missile production, destroy its navy and other security infrastructure, and [ensure] They will never have nuclear weapons. “
It comes after Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” in a video shared on Truth Society earlier Saturday. When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked on Monday whether the U.S. was doing more beyond airstrikes to help the Iranian people regain control of the country, Trump responded: “Yes.”
Bolton, who called Trump’s response to Tapper “important,” blasted Hegseth’s claims at the press conference, suggesting his message was inconsistent with the president’s.
John Bolton says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “needs to check with his boss what the targets are” (Getty Images)
“Pete Hegseth needs to check with his boss what the goals are,” Bolton told CNN host Kate Boldouin. “By the way, if the big thing is yet to come, how does Heggs explain that we have changed the regime and that was not our goal?”
“I mean, I think the top leadership in the Pentagon, the top civilian leadership, needs some attitude adjustment. I think the military is doing a great job, but I’m curious about the civilian leadership,” he added.
Hegseth was quick to express familiar frustrations at the press conference, denouncing “fake news” and the “political left.” He also dismissed the idea that the conflict could lead to “endless wars.”
Defense Secretary Peter Heggs has dismissed critics who say the Iran conflict could lead to “endless war” (AFP via Getty Images)
“The media and the political left are screaming ‘endless war,’ stop it. This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said. “My generation knows better, and this president knows better.”
Asked about Hegseth’s claim that the goal was not regime change, Bolton said the defense secretary should “talk to the president.”
“He has made it clear in multiple speeches that regime change is necessary to address threats to the United States, Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and support for international terrorism. That’s what he said. So maybe Pete Hegseth hasn’t seen the latest press release,” he said.
Trump fired Bolton in 2019 after repeated clashes with him over foreign policy issues. Bolton has since been an outspoken critic of Trump, even saying he was “unfit” to be president. Bolton was also indicted by the Justice Department last year on multiple counts related to the mishandling of classified information. In October, he pleaded not guilty.
independent The Pentagon has been contacted for comment.
