Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is pushing back on a report that he has been privately discussing a potential 2028 presidential run, calling the claim “100% false” and accusing NBC News of ignoring his denial.
“100% false. We told NBC that, but they just lie w/ anonymous ‘sources,’” Hegseth wrote on X Friday. The response came hours after <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2028-election/pete-hegseth-talking-possible-run-president-2028-sources-say-rcna594891">NBC News</a> reported that Hegseth had discussed the possibility of running for president with his wife, friends and colleagues in conversations over the past several months.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell chimed in as well, telling <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/pete-hegseth-denies-report-hes-considering-a-2028-run-what-polls-show-12383032">Newsweek</a>, “Secretary Hegseth is not running for President, and his main priority is leading the War Department. All other speculation is foolish.” The NBC report nevertheless fueled speculation about Hegseth’s political future, particularly after he <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pete-hegseth-iowa-campaign-zach-nunn/">traveled to Iowa</a> earlier this month to campaign for Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA).
Hegseth attended the Iowa State Fair in what the Pentagon described as a personal-capacity trip to support Nunn, who is seeking reelection. The appearance drew attention because Iowa traditionally plays a prominent role in the Republican presidential nominating process. NBC&#8217;s Courtney Kube described the fair as &#8220;a place where candidates go and showcase themselves in advance of a big run,&#8221; and Hegseth was received &#8220;like a rock star&#8221; at both the Iowa and Kentucky events.
The Iowa appearance was Hegseth’s second campaign-related trip this year. He previously traveled to Kentucky in May to campaign for Ed Gallrein, the Trump-endorsed primary challenger who went on to defeat Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
Those appearances, combined with Hegseth’s national profile as a former Fox News host and his position as one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent Cabinet officials, have made him a natural subject of 2028 speculation. But Hegseth is now unequivocally denying that he is preparing to seek the White House. The speculation comes as Republicans increasingly look toward the post-Trump era, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio among the most frequently discussed potential candidates.
Neither Vance nor Rubio has formally launched a 2028 presidential campaign. Vance has said he will make decisions about his political future after the 2026 midterm elections, while Rubio has indicated that he would support Vance if the vice president seeks the Republican nomination.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-weighs-in-on-potential-ted-cruz-presidential-run">publicly acknowledged</a> interest in a future presidential campaign, saying “It’s no secret that I want to be president.” Trump later responded fairly positively to the idea, “Yeah, I would say that he’s very talented. He’s a very good friend of mine. I think he might do that. Yeah, he’s a very talented — he’s a talented guy.”
Before joining Fox News, Hegseth briefly sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before withdrawing from the race. For now, however, Hegseth says his ambitions are focused elsewhere, “My only job: Make @DeptofWar Great Again.”

Untitled design (11)

Hegseth Breaks Silence On 2028 Speculation

2028

2028 election

2028 Elections

2028 presidential election

Department of Defense

Department of War

Iowa

Mainstream Media

Media

Media Bias

NBC News

Pete Hegseth

Republican Party

Republicans

Secretary of War

Six months ago, the United States and Israel went to war with Iran to cripple its nuclear program and military capabilities. Six months later, Iran has suffered devastating losses — but the Islamic regime remains in power.
The war’s impact has extended well beyond Iran itself. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and shipping, while ongoing negotiations have yet to produce a lasting agreement to end the war. With the fighting largely shifting from major military operations to economic warfare, the conflict has entered a new phase with no end in sight.
The campaign, originally named Operation Epic Fury, has delivered major military gains, imposed significant costs and left a long list of questions unanswered.
Here’s a look at the biggest achievements, losses and unresolved questions six months into the war.
<h2>Achievements</h2>
<h4>Ayatollah Khamenei Was Killed</h4>
The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the conflict was arguably the most consequential single strike of the war. Khamenei had ruled Iran for decades and was the central figure in the Islamic Republic’s political and military system. His death did not bring down the regime, but it removed the country’s most powerful leader and forced Iran into a succession process in the middle of a war. His son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has yet to be seen or heard in public or take on the public role his father once played.
<h4>Iran&#8217;s Military Leadership Was Devastated</h4>
Iran has also suffered extraordinary losses among its senior military leadership. Israel <a href="https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/israel-at-war/briefings-by-idf-spokesperson-bg-effie-defrin/february-26-press-briefings/press-briefing-by-idf-spokesperson-bg-effie-defrin-february-28-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">said</a> it killed dozens of senior Iranian commanders and officials in the opening strikes alone, including IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and other senior figures. As strikes continued, the Israel Defense Forces <a href="https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/iran-israel-war-2026/live-updates-iran-israel-war-2026/march-1-2026-iran-israel-war-2026-live-updates/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">claimed</a> it eliminated more than 40 Iranian senior commanders. On March 17, Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/he-threatened-america-then-came-the-strike-his-words-now-haunt">was killed</a> in an Israeli airstrike. He had been accused of overseeing the January crackdown that killed thousands of Iranian protesters and had threatened the U.S. military and President Trump shortly before his death.
<h4>Iran’s Economy Is In Shambles</h4>
Iran entered the war with an economy already under severe strain, with inflation, a collapsing rial, and worsening living conditions fueling protests in December and January. Six months into the war, the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has further squeezed Iran’s economy by choking off its ability to export oil. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-economy-war-impact-oil-exports-inflation-unemployment-gdp-currency-2026-8">Business Insider</a> reported that Iranian oil exports fell as low as 65,000 barrels per day in May, down 69% from the 2.12 million barrels a day exported before the war. The IMF projects Iran’s economy will contract 5.4% in 2026, its sharpest contraction since 1988, while inflation could reach 68.9%. The rial has fallen to record lows, and Iran’s economic “Misery Index” reached 91.1, its highest level on record. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies estimates the war has caused roughly $144 billion in economic damage, equivalent to about 40% of Iran’s prewar GDP.
<h4>Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure Is Buried</h4>
While several of Iran’s nuclear facilities were severely damaged by U.S. strikes ordered by President Trump last summer, the war provided an opportunity to continue degrading the program, targeting additional infrastructure and preventing Tehran from easily rebuilding what had been destroyed. The result is a nuclear program that has been repeatedly battered, with its ability to resume large-scale enrichment significantly constrained.
<h4>Navy and Air Force Neutralized</h4>
Iran’s conventional air and naval forces have been among the war’s biggest casualties. As of May, CENTCOM <a href="https://www.centcom.mil/ABOUT-US/POSTURE-STATEMENT/Al-Udeid-Air-Base/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">claimed</a> U.S. forces destroyed 161 Iranian vessels across 16 classes of warships, effectively crippling Iran’s ability to operate at sea. Before the operation, Iran’s air force was flying between 30 and 100 times a day. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper told Congress that number is now zero, with U.S. and Israeli strikes destroying or disabling airfields, aircraft hangars, fuel supplies, weapons stockpiles and aircraft. Cooper also said 82% of Iran’s air-defense missile systems were knocked out.
<h4>Iran’s Proxies Have Been Sidelined</h4>
One of Tehran’s traditional advantages has been its network of armed proxies across the Middle East, but that network entered the war significantly weaker than it was before October 7. Hezbollah did join the fight and launched attacks against Israel, but years of Israeli operations had severely weakened the group’s leadership and military capabilities. The Houthis also fired missiles at Israel, but their attacks were largely ineffective. Meanwhile, the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria in 2024 removed a key Iranian ally and severed an important link in Tehran’s regional network. The result was a much weaker “Axis of Resistance” that was unable to meaningfully relieve pressure on Iran or turn the conflict into a broader regional war.
<h2>Losses</h2>
<h4>Fallen American Soldiers</h4>
The war has also come at a human cost for the United States. According to the Pentagon’s updated casualty figures, 18 U.S. service members have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-american-heroes-killed-in-iran-attack-identified">been killed</a> and another 624 wounded since the war began on February 28. Those killed include Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, Capt. Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Sgt. Declan Coady, Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, John A. Klinner, Ariana Savino, Ashley Pruitt, Seth Koval, Curtis Angst, Tyler Simmons, Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards, Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales. 
<h4>The Strait of Hormuz Isn&#8217;t Open</h4>
The Strait of Hormuz is still operating, but traffic remains far below prewar levels. In August, only a handful of commercial vessels crossed the waterway each day, compared with more than 130 daily transits before the war, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hormuz-ship-crossings-hover-single-digits-data-shows-2026-08-21/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">according to Reuters</a>. And when traffic does return to normal, the strait’s administration could look different. Under the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-exactly-what-the-white-house-says-is-in-the-deal-with-iran">U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding</a>, Iran agreed to allow toll-free passage for commercial vessels for 60 days while working with Oman and other Persian Gulf states on the strait’s “future administration and maritime services.” A senior Trump administration official said the provision could pave the way for a longer-term arrangement, though Iran has so far indicated it wants to work only with Oman.
<h4>Key Allies Did Not Join the Fight</h4>
The war also exposed limits to how much support the United States could expect from some of its closest allies. Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain declined to join Trump’s efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, while Italy and Spain also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europe-pushes-back-us-military-operations-concerns-over-iran-war-mount-2026-03-31/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">restricted</a> U.S. military access to bases and airspace for operations against Iran. France denied Israeli aircraft carrying U.S. weapons overflight rights, while Britain limited its support largely to defensive operations. Trump publicly criticized Britain, France, Italy and Germany over their positions, leading to a series of diplomatic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-confront-divided-west-in-g7-showdown">spats</a>.
<h4>A Heavy Price Tag</h4>
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee in July that the war had cost an estimated $37.5 billion so far. NBC News reported that the Pentagon’s internal estimate had reached $80 billion to $100 billion when accounting for repairing damaged bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6046742-house-democrats-letter-iran-conflict/">replenishing</a> depleted weapons stockpiles. The administration also sought $67.1 billion from Congress in June, including $21 billion for munitions and $17.3 billion for operational costs. The United States has also lost a significant number of aircraft during the conflict, including at least four F-15E Strike Eagles, a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker, an A-10 Thunderbolt II, a CH-47 Chinook, two MC-130 transport aircraft and multiple MQ-9 Reaper drones.
<h2>Unresolved</h2>
<h4>Negotiations Have Dragged On</h4>
Despite months of negotiations, the United States and Iran have yet to reach a lasting agreement. The proposed June memorandum of understanding ultimately collapsed, and talks now appear stalled, with the two sides still divided over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions and the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has also accused Iran of saying one thing behind closed doors and another publicly, saying he does not trust the regime. 
<h4>Pickaxe Mountain</h4>
One of the biggest unresolved issues is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-is-pickaxe-mountain-and-why-is-trump-talking-about-it">Pickaxe Mountain</a>, a deeply buried nuclear-related complex near Iran’s Natanz facility that was not struck during previous U.S. attacks. Satellite imagery indicates construction and fortification have continued at the site, which some experts estimate is buried at least 100 meters underground — potentially deeper than the U.S. military’s conventional bunker-busting capabilities can reach. The International Atomic Energy Agency has never inspected the facility, raising questions about what Iran could eventually store or develop there. President Trump has publicly identified Pickaxe Mountain as a potential target, but for now the facility remains intact and could provide Iran with a hardened fallback for its nuclear program if it becomes operational.
<h4>Iran’s Nuclear Material Remains Unaccounted For</h4>
The fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remains unknown. Before the strikes, Iran had more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, but the IAEA has been unable to determine how much survived, where it is or whether Iran has moved it. Trump has repeatedly called the material “nuclear dust” and said the U.S. wants it removed from Iran. Iran, meanwhile, has maintained that it has the right to a peaceful civilian nuclear program. During negotiations, Trump has discussed working with Iran to excavate and remove the potentially buried stockpile.

Mojtaba Khamenei

Six Months Into the Iran War, Who Is Winning?

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Donald Trump

Iran

Israel

<div>
War Secretary Pete Hegseth&#8217;s visit to Iowa is fueling speculation that he could be testing the waters for a 2028 presidential run.
Officials familiar with Hegseth’s thinking told the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/17/hegseth-travels-iowa-his-personal-capacity-amid-2028-speculation/">Washington Post</a> that the Iowa visit fits the actions of someone considering a run for president after his time in the Trump administration ends. One of those officials, speaking anonymously, described the trip as something of a test run for a possible 2028 bid.
Iowa&#8217;s longstanding role as an early presidential proving ground has added to the speculation surrounding Hegseth&#8217;s visit.
Hegseth traveled to the state in his personal capacity and appeared with several House and Senate Republicans. The Pentagon confirmed that he traveled aboard a U.S. military aircraft because he is designated a “required use” traveler.
That status requires Hegseth to use military aircraft for official and personal travel because of the need for secure communications and transportation associated with his national security responsibilities.
Hegseth appeared Monday alongside Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), where he praised Nunn and defended continued American involvement in the war with Iran.
He also appeared alongside Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joni Ernst, and was expected to appear with Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-IA).
The appearances come as Republicans work to hold ground in a state where recent polling has shown tighter races than in previous cycles.
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-iowa-campaign-midterms-2028-b3035168.html">The Independent</a> noted that previous defense secretaries largely stayed out of overt political campaigning while in the job. Hegseth has aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump’s policy goals and has taken a more active role supporting Republican candidates while continuing to promote the administration’s national security priorities.
Other administration figures were also in Iowa this week, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler. Their visits coincided with the Iowa State Fair, a traditional gathering that draws both statewide candidates and national political figures.
The fair routinely attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and has long served as an important stop for politicians looking to connect with Iowa voters.
Ernst’s decision to retire has made Iowa&#8217;s Senate race a major focus this year. Hinson is running against Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, as both parties battle for control of the Senate.
Hegseth has not publicly announced plans to run for president in 2028.
</div>
<section></section>
<div></div>

Defense Secretary Hegseth And Joint Chiefs Chairman Caine Brief Media At Pentagon

Hegseth’s Iowa Trip Raises Early Questions About 2028

Trump Administraiton

The American military denied claims that a deadly fight broke out between sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln amid its lengthy deployment to the Middle East as the war with Iran carries on. 
U.S. Central Command said Thursday that claims about a rise in suicidal ideations on the aircraft carrier and a supposed fight among American sailors that killed seven were false. The statement came after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/uss-george-washington-to-replace-uss-abraham-lincoln-as-concerns-grow-about-mental-health-of-crew">reports</a> that two sailors had attempted to jump overboard during the deployment and reports of poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“Over the past 48 hours, multiple media outlets have reported several false claims related to USS Abraham Lincoln&#8217;s (CVN 72) deployment to the Middle East,” Central Command said. “One report alleged seven Sailors died in a brawl aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested a spike in suicidal ideations. These reports are FALSE.”
The claim about American soldiers killing each other originated with Iranian news outlets and was repeated across Asian media outlets. 
Central Command also pushed back on reports of low morale, saying that the vessel crew reenlistment rate of over 84%, the highest in the Navy. 
“The Sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group remain resilient and resolved after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended,” Central Command said. “No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died, and the one Sailor who fell overboard Aug. 3 was quickly and safely recovered. The rampant misreporting on Abraham Lincoln&#8217;s historic deployment is a disservice to our men and women in uniform and their loved ones.”
The statement from Central Command came after the Military Times <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/08/11/multiple-uss-abraham-lincoln-sailors-have-tried-to-go-overboard-amid-extended-deployment-families-say/">reported</a> earlier this week that two sailors attempted to jump overboard. Annabelle Loma said her husband was placed on a medical hold after he attempted to jump off the aircraft carrier. 
“He’s scared. He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge, and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. That’s not fair, that’s not right. That’s not what he should be worrying about right now,” she said.
Other reports from the carrier have pointed to plumbing issues, moldy showers, water, contamination, and food shortages.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is on its way to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for over 250 days. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday that some of the reporting concerning the conditions on Lincoln had been “completely misrepresented,” but said he understood it was difficult to be deployed so long. 
“Americans don’t understand what it’s like to do that,” he said. “As someone who’s — not been on a ship like that — but been on long deployments, I feel it. I want them home as soon as everybody else. I want folks rotated as quickly as possible … to that crew and to all those crews, we’re going to do everything we can for you and we are so grateful for their dedication.”

U.S. Conducts Blockade Operations Near Strait Of Hormuz

U.S. Military Responds To Disturbing Claims Coming From American Warship

Central Command

Iran war

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, as reports have circulated of mental health concerns aboard Lincoln.
The carrier switch, according to a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-sending-fresh-aircraft-carrier-to-middle-east-amid-iran-war-strain-d0d6e98d?eafs_enabled=false">report</a> published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, is part of a scheduled rotation to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln after more than eight months at sea with limited port calls. The extended deployment — since November 21, 2025 — has reportedly resulted in several sailors aboard Lincoln attempting to jump overboard.
The Navy Times reported on Tuesday that at least two sailors had made such attempts. Annabelle Loma told the outlet that her husband was one of them, and that he was on medical hold.
&#8220;He’s scared. He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge, and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. That’s not fair, that’s not right. That’s not what he should be worrying about right now,&#8221; she said.
Maria Rodriguez told The Navy Times that her husband had been on watch when another attempt was made, and that he&#8217;d been able to stop the sailor from going overboard.
&#8220;He said he hadn’t felt adrenaline like that in his life, and he was just so thankful he was able to get to [the sailor] in time, to stop them from going overboard,&#8221; she explained.
The Navy has disputed the accounts, telling USNI News on Wednesday that it has &#8220;not identified an increase&#8221; in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard Lincoln.
Other reports have mentioned a number of issues, such as broken toilets, moldy showers, and water contamination — in addition to alleged food shortages and complications with the mail service that kept some care packages from reaching their destinations.
Democrats in Congress <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/08/13/poor-conditions-are-reported-uss-abraham-lincoln-democrats-demand-answers/">quickly blamed</a> President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration for creating the situation.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) fired off a letter to War Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, demanding answers to several questions about conditions aboard the Lincoln and expressing concerns about Iran, claiming that the objectives had never been clear.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) posted a link to mental health resources for military service members, but <a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2087732648181366848">jabbed vaguely</a> at the administration as well: &#8220;The reports from the USS Abraham Lincoln about multiple sailors attempting to jump into the sea are disturbing. Long deployments are hard. They are a lot harder when the mission isn’t well defined and there is no end in sight.&#8221;
Over the last week, both Cao and Vice Adm. Joseph Cahill (commander of Naval Surface Forces) met with families either in person or virtually to address their concerns. Cao had said that the USS Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group would be deployed to replace Lincoln — but later reports suggest that it will be Washington instead.
&#8220;We hear you loud and clear [regarding] the impact this has on families, on service members and the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our forces’ health,&#8221; Cahill said.
<a href="https://news.usni.org/2026/08/13/uss-george-washington-heading-west-lincoln-deployment-nears-9-months">Lincoln</a> has been at sea for 241 consecutive days — more than a month longer than the previous record of 206 days, set by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during the COVID-19 pandemic. The last port call was December 11, 2025, in Guam. The deployment was supposed to end in May, but has been extended due to the ongoing war with Iran.
Secretary Hegseth said on Thursday that some of the reporting concerning the conditions on Lincoln had been &#8220;completely misrepresented.&#8221;
&#8220;Americans don&#8217;t understand what it&#8217;s like to do that,&#8221; he said. &#8220;As someone who&#8217;s — not been on a ship like that — but been on long deployments, I feel it. I want them home as soon as everybody else. I want folks rotated as quickly as possible &#8230; to that crew and to all those crews, we&#8217;re going to do everything we can for you and we are so grateful for their dedication.&#8221;

Two American Sailors Try To Jump Overboard From Ship Plagued By Food Shortages, Water Problems

USS George Washington To Replace USS Abraham Lincoln As Concerns Grow About Mental Health Of Crew

Military

Ukrainian drone operators defeated U.S. troops in a major war games <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/u-s-and-ukrainian-forces-went-head-to-head-in-an-exercise-ukraines-drones-won-cc3663d5?mod=europe_news_article_pos1">exercise</a> earlier this year, according to a new report.
The Combined Resolve drills took place in Hohenfels, Germany, in April and May. About 3,500 American personnel, mostly from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division rotating in from Fort Hood, Texas, faced Ukrainian operators from the 412th Regiment of Unmanned Systems Forces, known as Nemesis. The Americans were tasked with attacking a position held by the Army’s training ground opposition force, which the Ukrainians reinforced, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ukrainian drone units easily spotted and defeated the American troops and armored vehicles, according to people familiar with the events. Officials briefed on the exercise and one participant told the Journal that Ukrainian operators had eliminated a full U.S. armored brigade.
The American troops sent heavily armored vehicles into the fight. Those machines threw up dust and were easy for Ukrainian reconnaissance drones to spot. The reconnaissance craft were tailed by drones dropping explosives and by first-person view drones that smash into targets.
Live ammunition is rarely used in such exercises. Instead, drones typically hover above a vehicle or move close enough for an observer to award them a &#8220;kill.&#8221; Ukrainian systems did this so quickly that American units had to be sent back into the exercises as new units just to keep the training going.
The rotating troops carried standard electronic warfare and counter-drone systems. An Army official noted that newer Mobile Brigade Combat Teams — equipped with the latest gear and tactics — have fared much better in similar exercises.
Over the two-week engagement, the Americans reran the scenario and consistently improved. They became more adept at dispersing, concealing themselves, and using electronic warfare. Midway through the exercises, the Ukrainians switched sides and helped the U.S. forces use drone technology offensively, which they did effectively.
Ukrainian troops have become experts in drone warfare by necessity, after spending nearly four and a half years fighting Russia. Operators and support troops continually repair and adapt drones. American drone operators, in contrast, lack experience in fixing and arming drones under fire, according to a person present at the exercise.
In Ukraine, numerous tanks and other armor have been destroyed — and large parts of the country’s vast front line are almost free of armor. Some U.S. military officers argue that drones are particularly deadly in this war because it has reached a stalemate with little battlefield movement.
In a war of maneuver, they say, the tank and other armor would come back into their own. Ukrainian military thinkers such as former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny argue that drone technology has made traditional maneuver warfare unfeasible for now.
Eliot Cohen of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said recent battlefield experience shows how drones of all kinds are essential to modern war. “It is vital that the U.S. military master that, and thus far, unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case,” he said.
Combined Resolve was not the first exercise in which Ukrainian drones outstripped their competition. In May of last year, Ukrainian drone operators easily defeated British, Estonian, and other NATO forces — including a U.S. contingent — in an exercise in the Baltic region. This spring, Swedish forces led an exercise with NATO allies — and Ukrainian drone teams outperformed them as well.
This year in the Middle East, American forces have struggled to stop Iranian long-range drones that have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-american-heroes-killed-in-iran-attack-identified">killed</a> and injured soldiers and destroyed aircraft.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators in May that he had increased the number of U.S. personnel being sent to Ukraine to study drone warfare. The United States is also currently testing Ukrainian drones to buy.

Drone operators perform combat tasks in Zaporizhzhia direction

American Tanks and Soldiers Overwhelmed by Ukrainian Drones in War Games

Drones

Ukraine

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) gave a rare nod of approval to President Donald Trump, praising his crackdown on defense contractors that prioritize shareholder payouts over weapons production, saying the move has worked so well that she wants Congress to make it permanent. 
“Since the executive order was issued, each of the four largest defense contractors that engaged in stock buybacks and dividend payouts in the first quarter of 2025 cut them dramatically in the first quarter of 2026,” Warren said. “This review reveals that the president’s executive order helped protect taxpayers and improve investments by defense contractors.&#8221;
Warren is now urging Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to support legislation codifying key portions of Trump&#8217;s executive order into law.
“Given the findings of our review, we urge your support for codifying the president’s executive order into law and ensuring that the order has lasting results,” she wrote in a <a href="https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/08/Warren__Lee_Letter_to_DoD_re_Prioritizing_the_Warfighter_in_Defense_Contracting_.pdf">letter</a> to Hegseth. 
Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/prioritizing-the-warfighter-in-defense-contracting/">executive order</a> in January, prohibiting defense contractors involved in business with the Pentagon from using capital for stock buybacks and dividend payments if the companies have not made critical investments in increased production and other Pentagon-related needs for the country’s national interest.  
“Effective immediately, they are not permitted in any way, shape, or form to pay dividends or buy back stock, until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and on budget,” Trump wrote in the order. 
Trump said defense companies have the right to profit from their investments and hard work, but that “America’s warfighters have the best possible equipment and weapons.” Paying out dividends is a way for companies to distribute their profits to shareholders. 
Warren’s review found that combined stock buybacks and dividends among four of the largest defense contractors, Lockheed Martin, RTX, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics, fell from about $4.2 billion in the first quarter of 2025 to about $2.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The reductions were not uniform: Lockheed, Northrop, and General Dynamics all reported declines, while RTX&#8217;s payouts rose slightly year over year. 
Warren’s office also identified several contractors that it said had not meaningfully changed their behavior following Trump&#8217;s executive order, arguing that the results demonstrate why Congress should codify the policy rather than leave it solely to executive action. 
Warren and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting Act in March, legislation intended to codify key provisions of Trump&#8217;s order. Warren, now joined by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), is pressing Hegseth in the new letter to support that legislation.
“These contractors who did not respond to the president’s executive order reveal the need for legislation that emboldens the department to enforce accountability. Legislation also provides certainty, and ensures that these changes are part of a strategic shift to deliver more fiscal responsibility to the department instead of temporary changes that can be quickly reversed,” she wrote.

Screenshot 2026-08-11 at 1.42.36 PM

Elizabeth Warren Praises Trump’s Latest Move With Defense Contractors

Defense contractors

Elizabeth Warren

Pentagon

President Trump

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent honored the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in their home state of South Carolina on Monday as Joint Base Charleston was renamed in the senator&#8217;s honor.
“Lindsey Graham believed that the first obligation of the federal government is to keep its people safe,” Bessent said. “To place his name upon a base dedicated to our defense is to join Lindsey’s memory to the cause that animated his entire life.”
Bessent said Graham’s legacy belonged at the newly renamed Joint Base Lindsey Graham precisely because the senator “never outgrew the people or the places that first claimed him as our own.”
“Few men have traveled greater distances without ever leaving home behind,” Bessent said.
Bessent described Joint Base Lindsey Graham as the backbone of the Air Force’s C-17 fleet, calling the aircraft &#8220;the workhorse of our air defense.&#8221; He drew a comparison to Graham’s work in the Senate.
“From today forward, these planes will have Joint Base Graham on their tails,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;A reminder that Senator Graham was the American people&#8217;s workhorse.” 
Bessent was joined by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who echoed his tribute and emphasized Graham&#8217;s battles against left-wing ideology in the military.
“Lindsey spent his final years taking on a radical leftist ideology that had run rampant in the media, in academia, and even among a few members of Congress,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth argued that left-wing ideology had “killed&#8221; military recruiting efforts. 
Graham <a href="https://www.ngaus.org/magazine/conversation-sen-lindsey-graham?utm_source=chatgpt.com">linked</a> the military’s recruiting and retention struggles to the armed forces’ increasingly “woke” reputation. Graham backed a defense bill that banned the military from paying for gender-affirming healthcare for its soldiers, imposed a hiring freeze on all individuals tied to DEI initiatives, redirected $50 million in DEI programming to countering the flow of narcotics, and swapped DEI onboarding training for comprehensive training on the U.S. Constitution. 
For most of his career, Graham traveled to international hot spots to immerse himself in foreign policy and national security. His political career built on his distinguished record in the United States Air Force, where he served on active duty as an Air Force lawyer. Graham was stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany before later joining the South Carolina Air National Guard.
A memo signed by Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said the base was renamed after Graham to honor his “decades of distinguished service to the United States Congress and the United States Air Force.” 
Graham remained focused on foreign policy until the final days of his life. Shortly before his death, he traveled to Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pushed for tougher sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

Lindsey Graham

Lindsey Graham’s Military Legacy Gets A Lasting Tribute

Scott Bessent

South Carolina

Tribute

Many people have begun to worry about the state of American politics. They feel President Trump’s approval ratings have now dropped to 37% of the number of people in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, while the Democrat Party is being taken over by communists so that the country is careening helplessly into a fatal catastrophe that will leave us eating our pets for breakfast before we wage a Civil War that reduces the continent to a pool of blood and ashes. And, of course, all that’s true. But it’s no reason to panic. Well, it’s kind of a reason to panic. But if you just take a breath and then zoom in for a really close look at the situation, I think you’ll see a reason to panic really close, which hopefully will make it look like something else.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/andrew-klavan-show-ep-1290?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-974735 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Klavan-watch-now.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
On the Republican side, the problem is the unpopular war in Iran. President Trump says he is holding off on hurling deadly missiles at Iran because he has managed to negotiate a peace deal with Iran’s supreme leader even though the leader is a Jew-hating Islamist whose slogan is &#8220;Death to America.&#8221; Iran’s supreme leader, however, says he hasn’t been negotiating with anyone, and the confused Trump is actually negotiating with a Democrat candidate for Congress, who is also a Jew-hating Islamist whose slogan is &#8220;Death to America,&#8221; so the mistake is understandable. Overall, the Iranians have sworn to continue to resist Trump’s attacks until the arrival of the apocalyptic Twelfth Imam, who is also a Democrat candidate for Congress. This means that Trump will have to continue hurling deadly missiles, except that we’re running out of deadly missiles so he may have to hurl something else deadly like Kamala Harris’s memoir or lettuce.
But while our munitions are running low, our military is trying to reform. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was administering testosterone tests to the warriors until one of them lost his temper, beat the tester senseless, opened fire on his fellow soldiers with a machine gun, then sexually assaulted a female lieutenant while singing &#8220;God Bless the USA&#8221; at the top of his lungs, which fortunately, turned out to be the correct answer on the testosterone test.
With Trump distracted by the war, he hasn’t had a lot of free time in which to pressure Senate Majority Leader John Thune to, like, make a law or something, so Thune has been forced to find other ways to pass the time. To entertain himself, Thune has invented a new version of Charades in which the answer is always “A potted plant.” The way the game is played, Senate Majority Leader John Thune just stands there like a potted plant, and the other senators keep guessing that he’s Senate Majority Leader John Thune, until Thune reveals that, no, he’s actually a potted plant, whereupon everyone has a good laugh and goes on summer break.
With the Republicans in disarray, the Democrats have felt free to nominate congressional candidates who believe in socialism. The candidates are careful to explain that socialism is not the same as communism because in communism, millions of people starve to death while a leader with a bushy mustache shoots all his colleagues in the back of the head, whereas in socialism, there’s generally no bushy mustache.
The new Democrat candidates say their real platform is economic equality and hating Jews, and they’re all out of economic equality.
The new Democrats have found some common cause with former Right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson. Carlson has been subtly supporting the communists by interviewing such popular pro-communist celebrities as Satan. Tucker says that many Americans don’t realize that Satan actually loves Christians, especially with a little mustard and a smattering of relish, and he says Satan should not be silenced just because certain Zionist influencers are calling him Prince of Darkness, or because Prince of Darkness happens to be his official title. Tucker then let out that creepy high-pitched laugh of his, burst into flames and fell through the floor in a cloud of sulfurous smoke, increasing his audience by several million.
So I think it&#8217;s clear we can all avoid panicking about the state of American politics, if we just zoom in too close to see it properly, and then take heroin.

Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Holds Rally In Detroit With Sen. Bernie Sanders And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Hammer, Sickle, And Jihad: The Future Of The Democrat Party

Abdul El-Sayed

Andrew Klavan

Communism

Democrats

John Thune

satanic

Socialism

Tucker Carlson

The U.S. Air Force <a href="https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=131704">awarded</a> Boeing a $75 million contract Wednesday to begin production of the Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range, or GBU-75, a new precision-guided weapon capable of striking targets more than 300 nautical miles away while carrying a 500-pound-class payload.
Boeing previously invested nearly $100 million of its own money into developing the system. The contract allows the company to begin initial production of the payload delivery units for the U.S. Navy.
The new weapon builds on the military&#8217;s existing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) by keeping the same guidance system and compatibility with the current aircraft while adding folding wings and a compact turbojet engine. 
Because it uses many of the same components and can be carried by aircraft already equipped for standard JDAMs, Boeing says it can be produced in high volume and quickly integrate into the existing fleet. 
Boeing Vice President Bob Ciesla called the production contract a major milestone, saying it demonstrates the company’s ability to deliver long-range precision strike capability at a significantly lower cost. 
According to Boeing, expanding production of the GBU-75 will give U.S. forces an affordable option for striking long-range and maritime targets.
The system recently completed its first flight test off the coast of California. During the test, it sustained powered flight along a predefined profile, used military-code GPS navigation, and maintained consistent guidance all the way to its target.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded to Boeing’s announcement of the contract with a post on X that read “<a href="https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2085090429037371611">Arsenal of Freedom</a>.” The phrase has become a recurring theme in recent efforts to expand American munitions production and strengthen the defense industrial base. 
It appeared earlier this July when the administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-announces-10-billion-defense-boom-thousands-of-new-jobs?author=Leona+Salinas&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=38&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Announces+%2410+Billion+Defense+Boom%2C+Thousands+Of+New+Jobs">announced</a> a $10 billion investment in Pennsylvania that was projected to support more than 4,000 defense industry jobs.
&nbsp;

GettyImages-528984718

Air Force Clears Boeing’s New 300-Mile Weapon For Production

Air Force Moves Forward with Boeing’s 300-Mile Strike Weapon.

Air Force

JDAM

In a blistering showdown on Tuesday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a reality check to Senate Democrats, demanding to know if they would rather play partisan politics than stop a rogue regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Facing off against Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) during a heated Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Hegseth cut through hours of budget bickering with a defense of the administration’s strategy to neutralize the Iranian threat.
Prior to the exchange with Shaheen, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) had blustered, “Let me also say we&#8217;re in a moment in history where we can win the war in Ukraine. That victory would be critically important for those people who have fought for more than four years against the odds and proven they can put Putin back on his heels. But instead of finding the money that they need now for air defenses, we&#8217;re putting more money into this exchange with Iran, a war of choice which we never should have entered.”
Shaheen later followed by ranting, “At what point do you stop asking Americans to foot the bill for a war they don&#8217;t support on top of an inflated budget request and billions in reconciliation funds that you still haven&#8217;t spent?”
Hegseth fired back, challenging the notion that somehow the war in Ukraine should supersede the war against a nuclear threat to America.
&#8220;One of the reasons I take issue with that characterization is something that Senator Durbin said when he talked about Ukraine. And he talked about winning,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;And I appreciate as much as anybody winning a war. But I sit in front of a committee that wants to talk about winning a war that&#8217;s been going on for four years and talks about the strategic defeat of a conflict that&#8217;s been going on for four months to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. I would hope for some perspective in this town of the historic nature of what President Trump is undertaking. Do you want radical Islamists to have a nuclear bomb that can stare down the world?&#8221;
By putting the nuclear threat front and center, Hegseth left the committee with a stark choice: stop quibbling over spreadsheets and back the commander-in-chief, or answer to the American public when a radical regime gets its hands on the ultimate weapon.

Defense Secretary Hegseth Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Committee

Pete Hegseth Forces Dems To Answer One Simple Iran Question

Senate Democrats

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Department of War and the Department of Justice have created a joint task force to identify and prosecute government officials accused of leaking sensitive national defense information.
<a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/2076673841913344136">In a video posted on X</a>, Hegseth said unauthorized disclosures can endanger American troops, compromise military operations, and cause &#8220;exceptionally grave damage&#8221; to national security.
&#8220;The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive War Department information has the very real potential to cause exceptionally grave damage to our national security and the operational integrity of our armed forces,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;To leak sensitive national defense information and secrets betrays the men and women who wear our nation&#8217;s uniform.&#8221;
Hegseth said that when a leak occurs, it is critical for the department to quickly provide the Department of Justice, FBI, and other federal law enforcement agencies with actionable information.
According to Hegseth, the new directive expands the authority of the War Department&#8217;s Office of General Counsel to obtain records and other information related to leak investigations and requires department personnel to respond within 48 hours. 
&#8220;The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;Access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust. And those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law.&#8221;
The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues pursuing multiple investigations into leaks involving sensitive national security information. 
The announcement follows several recent investigations in which Trump administration officials said unauthorized disclosures threatened national security.
One recent investigation centered on media reports that two U.S. service members had gone down inside Iran during U.S. military operations earlier this year. One airman had been rescued while search efforts continued for a second.
President Donald Trump later said those reports placed the rescue operation &#8220;at great risk&#8221; because they alerted Iran that an American service member remained inside the country.
&#8220;All of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land that was fighting for his life,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump also said the disclosure made the rescue <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/furious-trump-threatens-jail-for-reporters-targets-sick-leaker-who-risked-rescue">mission more difficult</a> for American personnel. According to Trump, the second service member was eventually rescued during an operation involving 155 U.S. aircraft. Trump said his administration was attempting to identify the source of the leak.
Another investigation involves a New York Times report detailing why Trump departed Turkey aboard the older Air Force One instead of the newly accepted Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar.
According to<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-nyt-story-that-just-triggered-doj-subpoenas"> The Daily Wire</a>, citing federal law enforcement sources, a senior FBI official urged the New York Times not to publish the story, warning that it contained highly sensitive national security information. The news outlet ultimately published the report, citing unnamed sources discussing the aircraft&#8217;s security protocols.
The Justice Department later issued grand jury subpoenas to four New York Times reporters connected to the story. A DOJ spokesman told The Daily Wire, &#8220;Reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.&#8221;

Secretary Hegseth And Chairman Caine Hold Pentagon Press Briefing On Iran Strikes

Menu