The Pentagon is reinstating the flu vaccine mandate for the Army, Navy, and Air Force following a recent outbreak.
The Army is planning to broaden the requirement to include overseas troops, first responders, prison staff, health care personnel, and child care workers, according to <a href="https://abcnews.com/Health/military-services-requiring-recruits-flu-shots-air-force/story?id=134126794">ABC News</a>. 
The mandate has been a longstanding Pentagon policy since 1945. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the requirement two months ago. While he encouraged soldiers to take the vaccine, Hegseth announced, “We will not force you.” 
He previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/21/military-flu-vaccine-hegseth">characterized</a> universal shots as &#8220;absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities&#8221; and claimed the rollback restored &#8220;medical autonomy&#8221; to troops.
At least 222 recruits at Joint Base San Antonio have been diagnosed with influenza, with four hospitalizations. The conditions of the training base make illnesses easy to spread. Recruits routinely live and sleep in tightly packed spaces, shower together, and are subject to stress and exhaustion.
New recruit Keon McDaniel died June 16, prompting a strong public reaction. He was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. McDaniel was in his sixth week of basic training when he died.
The cause of McDaniel’s death remains under investigation, but several critics believe it is linked to the outbreak. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro blamed Hegseth for the outbreak and McDaniel’s death in a social media post last week.
&#8220;After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness,&#8221; Castro posted, in part.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness. At the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, nearly 160… <a href="https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr">https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr</a>
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) <a href="https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/2067772807199535297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Some high-ranking Republicans were also critical of Hegseth for relaxing the mandate. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker publicly called Hegseth&#8217;s rollback a &#8220;mistake,&#8221; <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5841737-gop-armed-services-chair-warns-ending-mandatory-military-flu-shots-a-mistake/">stating</a> that mandatory vaccines historically created a healthier armed force.
When the outbreak began, roughly 40% of new Air Force trainees had been vaccinated at Joint Base San Antonio.
Due to the rapid nature of the situation, the Air Force requested that Hegseth bypass standard protocols for an emergency policy exemption. Hegseth granted exemptions to all military departments immediately.
This is not the first time the mandate has wavered. While first introduced in 1945, the military temporarily withdrew the requirement in 1949 because early vaccine formulas struggled to adapt to changing viral strains. It was reinstated permanently in the 1950s.

IMG_2581

Military Branches Bring Back Vaccine Mandate After Virus Outbreak On Base

Military

Pete Hegseth

Vaccine Mandate

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stressed on Thursday that the deal made to end the war in Iran was &#8220;born of strength of American action,&#8221; and said the Pentagon is &#8220;ready to go&#8221; if President Donald Trump decides to restart the war.
Hegseth, a hard-liner on Iran, said that this negotiation is different from past negotiations because of the military action taken against the Iranian regime.
“One key difference between this agreement and others is this was born of strength of American action,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;JCPOA came from a bunch of begging and talking — this agreement came after months of bombing and a blockade that was impenetrable.”
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He said that posture will continue, and pledged that Iran should know that the War Department is &#8220;right here ready to go&#8221; if it fails to reach a deal over the next 60 days.
&#8220;Our posture is one of strength,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;Iran is going to have every opportunity to cut the kind of deal they should at the table, and if they don&#8217;t — the War Department will be right here ready to go.&#8221;
Hegseth also echoed the lines previously promulgated from senior administration officials, saying the MOU is &#8220;all performance-based&#8221; and &#8220;all conditions-based,&#8221; promising a &#8220;verify, verify, verify&#8221; approach he explicitly contrasted with the Obama-era nuclear deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://x.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a> “One key difference between this agreement and others is this was BORN OF STRENGTH of American action.
JCPOA came from a bunch of begging and talking—this agreement came after months of bombing and a blockade that was IMPENETRABLE.” <a href="https://t.co/YNs1p2Va8a">pic.twitter.com/YNs1p2Va8a</a>
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2067555756988076047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;There&#8217;s not a lot of trust here,&#8221; Hegseth said, adding, &#8220;Everything we&#8217;re going to do is verify, verify, verify. And so at every step, whether it&#8217;s our military posture or it&#8217;s the carrots that exist to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon, all performance-based.&#8221;
&#8220;There [are] no giveaways here. There&#8217;s no trust here. It&#8217;s all verification,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And the War Department stands behind it all — as the president has said — prepared to devastatingly do what we&#8217;ve done already.&#8221;
The MOU, however, is vague on the conditions of a deal, with senior administration officials and the president saying that a lot of what has been promised by Iran isn&#8217;t explicitly written.

NATO Defence Ministers Meeting Held In Brussels

Hegseth’s Deal-Or-Consequences Message To Iran

Donald Trump

Iran

The War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Cuba would be “inviting” a confrontation if it acquires weapons capable of threatening Guantánamo Bay or the U.S. homeland.
Hegseth issued a stark warning to Cuba on Wednesday during a visit to Guantánamo Bay, cautioning Havana against acquiring weapons capable of threatening the U.S. homeland or the American naval base on the island.
Speaking to American troops after joining them for morning physical training at the base, Hegseth emphasized the strategic importance of Guantánamo Bay and America&#8217;s long-standing presence there.
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&nbsp;
According to a recent <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/us-military-drones-cuba">Axios report</a> citing U.S. officials, Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and has discussed potential plans to use them against Guantánamo Bay or even targets in Florida, including Key West. U.S. officials told the outlet that Havana has continued seeking additional drones and military equipment from Russia, while intelligence intercepts reportedly suggest Cuban officials are also studying how Iran has resisted U.S. pressure.
“It would be unwise for the government of Cuba to try to procure or get access to the types of weapons that can reach this bay or the American homeland,” he said. “They would be inviting the kind of confrontation that they not only don’t want, but they could not stand.”
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://x.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a> “Then you look at Cuba…
That government has decisions to make about what kind of reforms it wants to pursue—it’s not my job to make that decision for them.
It’s our job at the WAR DEPARTMENT to be prepared for whatever our Commander in Chief asks us to do on behalf of… <a href="https://t.co/sYZKYPGQZD">pic.twitter.com/sYZKYPGQZD</a>
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2064763483208520176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Cuban government has strongly <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgpyg9peq9o">denied</a> the allegations. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused the United States of constructing a “fraudulent case” to justify military action and insisted that Havana “neither threatens nor desires war.”
The visit comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Cuba. In recent months, President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified economic pressure on Havana through sanctions and an oil blockade while signaling a more aggressive posture toward the communist regime.
“We hope soon that we can be a friend to the leadership of Cuba,” Hegseth added. “For now, let’s see what happens, but the Department of War will give the Commander in Chief every single option he needs.”
Before participating in the workout, Hegseth delivered a similar message, saying, “What happens with the future of Cuba is in the hands of the President of the United States and the leadership of Cuba.”
“No matter what, the Department of War is going to be prepared and postured for any possible contingency,” he added.
Hegseth noted that he served at Guantánamo Bay roughly two decades ago as part of the detention mission following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“This was then and is here today a very important and strategic piece of American terrain,” he said. “We’re here from the Department of War to get a chance to see it and make sure it’s as strong as it can possibly be.”
Hegseth also used the visit to highlight the administration’s broader security focus in the Western Hemisphere, including ongoing counternarcotics operations.
“I would not get into a drug boat in the Caribbean or the Eastern Pacific right now,” he told troops. “We are hunting you like we hunted Al Qaeda and ISIS.”
He added that “we are defending the homeland and we are taking back our hemisphere.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://x.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a> “WE ARE DEFENDING THE HOMELAND AND WE ARE TAKING BACK OUR HEMISPHERE…
This president came in and said NOT ONLY is the Monroe Doctrine alive—not only does the Roosevelt Corollary live—BUT NOW WE HAVE THE DONROE DOCTRINE.” <a href="https://t.co/LPpBuAFQ0A">pic.twitter.com/LPpBuAFQ0A</a>
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2064755993657901405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Guantánamo Bay, located on Cuba’s southeastern coast roughly 430 miles from Miami, has housed a U.S. naval base for more than a century and became globally known for the detention facility established after the September 11 attacks.
The administration&#8217;s increased focus was highlighted last month by Secretary of State Marco Rubio who delivered a direct message to the Cuban people, accusing the communist government of enriching itself while citizens face food shortages, fuel shortages, blackouts, and political repression.
“The real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the Trump administration is prepared to provide $100 million in food and medicine to the Cuban people through religious and charitable organizations rather than the Cuban government. He also argued that Cuba&#8217;s leadership remains the primary obstacle to improved relations with the United States.
“In the U.S., we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries,” Rubio said. “Currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.”
The administration&#8217;s focus on Cuba has also included a series of high-level engagements by senior U.S. officials. In recent months, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, have both traveled to the island. 
Hegseth departed Guantánamo Bay later Wednesday and traveled to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, where he met with U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

DOW Secretary Hegseth Addresses Graduates At West Point Commencement

Hegseth Delivers Stark Ultimatum To Havana After Reports Of Cuban Drone Buildup

Hegseth Delivers Warning To Havana Amid Reports Of Cuban Drone Buildup

Cuba

Guantanamo Bay

After back-to-back weeks of The View’s liberal ladies making up lies about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/girl-math-sunny-hostin-lies-about-the-cost-of-blm-damage-and-eggs?author=Nicholas+Fondacaro&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Girl+Math%3A+Sunny+Hostin+Lies+About+the+Cost+of+BLM+Damage+and+Eggs">cost of living</a>, the Black Lives Matter riots, and trying to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abc-news-the-view-shows-off-expertise-in-fake-history?author=Nicholas+Fondacaro&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=ABC+News%E2%80%99+%E2%80%98The+View%E2%80%99+Shows+Off+Expertise+In+Fake+History">revise history</a>, they kicked off June by reminding everyone that they’ll let their guests get away with just about anything if they like them. Their headline guests were former First Lady Jill Biden and author/podcaster Kara Swisher.
Appearing on The View to peddle her book to their loyal liberal viewers, Biden drew outrage Tuesday when boasting about how good her step-son Hunter Biden was doing and the family he was building. But Jill seemingly left out Hunter’s daughter Navy, an apparent shame the Bidens had tried to hide in the past.
“Hunter is doing so great, and he&#8217;s sober. He has a beautiful child, I mean, yes, thank you. Who&#8217;s named Beau. He named his son after Beau, and Beau named his son after Hunter. Just shows the bond,” she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Jill Biden implies Hunter Biden has only had 1 child, a boy:
&#8220;Hunter is doing so great and he&#8217;s sober. He has a beautiful child, I mean, yes, thank you. Who&#8217;s named Beau. He named his son after Beau and Beau named his son after Hunter. So just shows the bond.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/PHVYK9KLAx">pic.twitter.com/PHVYK9KLAx</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://x.com/NickFondacaro/status/2061849717869265334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
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None of the cast members <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNvggHmdsAU">pressed</a> her on it, just like they didn’t press her on why she didn’t take President Joe Biden to the hospital after, as she first claimed to CBS News, she thought he had a stroke during the debate:
<blockquote>
SARA HAINES: So, I understand completely your first instinct to defend him after that debate we were just speaking of. But did you feel any of that fear, as his wife right there beside him, to protect him? He had given so much of himself and to see you even saying, like, ‘I thought he was having a medical episode, I was concerned.’ Was there any part of you that went into protection mode of like, ‘Joe, you can&#8217;t keep doing this? They&#8217;re taking so much from you.’
JILL BIDEN: But the doctors told me he was fine.
</blockquote>
With co-host Joy Behar jetting off to Europe to produce her play, they brought Swisher on to fill in.
It was her first time as a guest co-host, but she was comfortable enough to completely ignore Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s decorated military service and suggest he didn’t have any military experience and was somehow a DEI hire:
<blockquote>
SWISHER: But it focuses on what you were saying: lack of expertise. And that&#8217;s sort of everywhere. Like, look, Pete Hegseth —
HOSTIN: And he talked about DEI so much. It means, you know, ‘didn’t earn it’ now.
SWISHER: This is DEI, right?
HOSTIN: Yeah.
SWISHER: Didn’t earn it. Exactly. You have Pete Hegseth, who was a talk show host.
</blockquote>
Hegseth is a <a href="https://www.war.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/4040890/hon-pete-hegseth/">decorated Army combat veteran</a> with deployments to the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, none of The View cast have served in the military.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Filling in for Joy Behar on The View, Kara Swisher falsely suggests Pete Hegseth has no military experience and has only ever been &#8220;a talk show host.&#8221; She claims Scott Pelley was &#8220;shoved out&#8221; because of a &#8220;lack of expertise&#8221; at CBS. <a href="https://t.co/79plxr8RMG">pic.twitter.com/79plxr8RMG</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://x.com/NickFondacaro/status/2062190882472747039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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If you think The View would try to hand-wave the lies away with one of their infamous “legal notes,” you’d be mistaken. The View has stopped issuing formal “legal notes.” A <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2025/12/19/view-went-all-2025-without-legal-note-they-were-needed">NewsBusters study</a> found that The View had not issued a “legal note” in all of 2025.
Additionally, in a recent interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTgkRmtlpA&amp;t=16s">Fox News</a>, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said they’re hearing many arguments against The View being a “bona fide news” program: “Disney&#8217;s The View is now asserting to the FCC that they are a &#8216;bona fide news&#8217; program, and we&#8217;ve started an enforcement action there&#8230; At this point, The View and Disney have not established that they are subject to the &#8216;bona fide news&#8217; exception. And in fact, as you noted, we are now seeing dozens of Disney-affiliated TV stations independently owned in Texas, effectively disagreeing with Disney that The View is &#8216;bona fide news.&#8217;”
Both the study and the comments from TV stations were more stones on the mountain they needed to climb to prove to the FCC they were somehow a “bona fide news” program.
***
Nicholas C. Fondacaro is the associate editor for the Media Research Center and NewsBusters.

FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES, DR. JILL BIDEN, SUNNY HOSTIN

The View: The News Show That Shames Toddlers And Warriors

DW Opinion

Jill Biden

The View

In a stirring, emotional and inspiring commencement speech at West Point, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth perfectly articulated the warrior’s credo for the graduates while he devastated the woke ideology that had permeated the military in recent years.
“On a day like today, there&#8217;s no better way to start than with a word from Scripture,” he began. “And on a day as special as this, for the 998 great Americans of this class, there&#8217;s no more fitting verse than from Isaiah 6:8:
<blockquote>Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said. “Here I am. Send me.”</blockquote>
“Many of you, even in your short time in uniform, have endured what I call the slow slide of the U. S. Army,” Hegseth recalled. “You&#8217;ve seen standards lowered. You&#8217;ve seen an obsession with race and gender. You&#8217;ve seen the watering down of discipline, codes weakened and traditions tossed aside in the name of political correctness. Statues taken down, paintings placed in the basement.”
“I&#8217;m here to tell you the slow slide here at West Point and across the United States Army is over,” he declared. “Political leaders with ideological agendas and weak military leaders who were just looking to curry favor for the next star allowed our cherished army to slide off our true north. But you, our warriors, will snap it back. You are the future. Others may have allowed it to slide away. You will not. You will restore our army. And I will empower you to do it.”
“The single dumbest phrase in military history was peddled in our army only a few short years ago,” he continued. “You&#8217;ve all heard it, maybe in your first two years at West Point: ‘Our diversity is our strength.’”
“The single dumbest phrase in military history,” he stated. “We had generals saying this with a straight face on national television. It was absolute nonsense. Now, these sorts of silly things can be laughed at when they occur in a civilian lounge or civilian faculty lounge or debated in graduate seminars. But they cannot be tolerated in our formations. These ideas are what get people killed. Diversity is not our strength. Unity is our strength.”
“When you&#8217;re out there in your formations as platoon leaders at the tip of the spear,” he said, “You will not compromise; you will not seek color, and you will not try to meet arbitrary quotas based on immutable characteristics. You do not have time to celebrate identity months. And you will not make excuses for yourselves and you will not accept excuses from others. You will lead. That&#8217;s what this academy has trained you to do, to lead us.”
“There&#8217;s no substitute for preparation ever,” he said. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Plan for recovery, resupply, alternate communications, rehearse and refine.”
He turned to his own personal history to illustrate his point:
<blockquote>The first air assault I ever did, leading a platoon in Baghdad in the middle of the night on an al-Qaeda objective, we had 36 hours to prepare, and I spent every minute of those 36 hours preparing. It paid off. Because when the pilots dropped us a few hundred meters in the wrong spot in the middle of a mud field and the GPS didn&#8217;t work, there was one man that platoon was looking at. It was me. And because I&#8217;d done every map recon, every satellite imagery recon, every recon I could, I had a general sense of where we were and could orient at that moment in the right direction. 
If I had not prepared, they would have looked at me and I would have looked right back at them. And nothing I did was perfect. Nothing you&#8217;ll do will be perfect, but at least you can prepare. Always be the most prepared member in your unit.  Be decisive and be aggressive. Pick a course of action and carry it through until you have a point to reassess. Second guessing. Set the example and display courage. Both physically and morally to make the tough calls, especially when it&#8217;s not popular. It doesn&#8217;t mean you won&#8217;t be afraid. But it means you will be prepared to push through it. Know the purpose of your mission and explain it to your soldiers.</blockquote>
“My job is easy,” he said. “Your job is hard. Your job is to forge a team of American soldiers who will stand tall, not back down, look the enemy in the eye, and whisper, ‘Send us.’ You are in the profession of arms. You feel comfortable inside the violence, so that our fellow citizens can live peacefully. Lethality is your calling card, and victory our only acceptable end state.”
“My seven kids are here with me today,” he noted. “My wife, Janie, and I brought them. Our oldest is 15 years old. He may. look at attending West Point one day. Or heaven forbid, the Naval Academy,” he joked. “Who knows? We have five boys and two girls, all Americans, all children of God. I don&#8217;t know what path God will choose for them. And I know that I&#8217;ll fiercely love them no matter what they do. But I can tell you this, nothing in the world would make me prouder than to hear one of them stand up and proclaim, ‘Send me.’”
“We live in a culture of clickbait and rage bait and vapid social media and celebrity gossip,” he said. “In a world like that, it&#8217;s really easy to get distracted and lost. And no matter what my kids end up choosing, I pray like this audience: they choose substance. I pray they choose service. And I pray they choose purpose. &#8216;Send me&#8217; is the timeless, selfless call to service. It&#8217;s the craving to serve something greater than yourself.”
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Hegseth’s Challenge To West Point Cadets Will Bring Patriots To Their Feet

West Point

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave his best Trump impression on Monday, while campaigning for retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in Kentucky.
Hegseth drew applause and laughter when he recalled President Donald Trump giving him a pep talk of sorts about the nomination process and his position in the administration.
&#8220;Trump told me, when he first offered me this job — he said, &#8216;Pete, you&#8217;re gonna have to be tough as sh*t,&#8221; Hegseth told Gallrein supporters, adopting Trump&#8217;s tone and mannerisms. &#8220;&#8216;You ready? They&#8217;re gonna come after ya!'&#8221;
Notably, Hegseth has been the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-cant-believe-it-was-published-wapo-attacks-hegseth-for-protecting-his-family">target</a> of a number of legacy media attacks since the moment Trump announced the Army veteran as his pick for Secretary of War. Hegseth withstood the personal attacks and was confirmed in January 2025, by Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s tie-breaking vote.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 LMAO! SecWar Pete Hegseth does a hilarious impression of Donald Trump
He’s actually got it down pretty good 🤣
“He said &#8216;PETE, you&#8217;re gonna have to be tough as SHlT…You ready? They&#8217;re gonna come after you!’” 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/utuKJII58S">pic.twitter.com/utuKJII58S</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2056432440235692536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
At the campaign event, Hegseth told a crowd of Kentucky voters that backing Gallrein in the 4th Congressional District primary race over Rep. Thomas Massie is a &#8220;no-brainer.&#8221;
Gallrein got the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-trump-goes-all-out-to-oust-thomas-massie">backing</a> of President Donald Trump, after Massie refused to support the president with regard to the war in Iran, the Epstein files, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and other issues.
“President Trump needs reinforcements, and that’s what warfighters do,” Hegseth <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315799747.html">said</a>. &#8220;Warfighters understand mission. They understand teamwork. They understand loyalty, and they understand that in the middle of a fight, you don’t weaken your own side. You advance to the objective, and that’s what Ed Gallrein understands, because he has lived it.”
The secretary further went after Massie for obstructing Trump&#8217;s agenda and &#8220;grandstanding.&#8221;
“Thomas Massie’s record speaks for itself,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Too much grandstanding &#8230; [with] years of acting like being difficult is the same thing as being courageous. It’s not. Real courage means stepping up when the mission matters most, when we need that tough vote to beat left-wing lunatic Democrats.”
The hotly contested and closely watched race is reportedly the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. Polls close at 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-trump-goes-all-out-to-oust-thomas-massie">Team Trump Goes All Out To Oust Thomas Massie</a>

US-MILITARY-DEFENSE-MEETING

WATCH: Pete Hegseth Recreates Trump Pep Talk Word-For-Word

Pete Hegseth Recreates Trump Pep Talk Word For Word 

Politics

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly declared Tuesday that the Cuban regime poses a national security threat to the United States. The striking statement came during a House budget hearing as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to rise.
During a hearing on the administration’s proposed 2027 defense budget, Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) pressed Hegseth on Cuba’s ties to hostile foreign powers and its long history of antagonism toward the United States.
“Considering all those issues and others that we could talk about in a classified setting, do you believe that the Cuban regime possesses a national security threat to the United States?” Díaz-Balart asked.
“I do,” Hegseth responded.
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Before that exchange, Díaz-Balart laid out a series of accusations against the communist government, asking Hegseth to confirm each one in turn. “Is it true that the Cuban regime actually shot down two American airplanes in international airspace, murdering Americans?” the Florida congressman asked, referencing the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue incident.
“I don’t — I can’t recall the precise year, but I believe that is the case,” Hegseth replied.
Díaz-Balart then turned to Cuba’s growing relationships with America’s geopolitical rivals.
“Is it true that Russian spy ships and warships, including the nuclear sub Kazan, have repeatedly used Cuban ports?”
“That is true, Congressman,” Hegseth said.
The congressman also referenced renewed concern over the Russian signals intelligence site at Lourdes and alleged Chinese intelligence activity on the island.
“And is it also true that now the Chinese also are there?” Díaz-Balart asked.
“I wouldn’t want to reveal anything that should be classified, but we don’t want foreign adversaries attempting to use that island,” Hegseth answered.
The exchange comes as the Trump administration has sharply increased pressure on communist governments in the Western Hemisphere during his second term, leading to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Cuba has long been accused by U.S. officials of <a href="https://www.thefp.com/p/how-cuba-propped-up-maduro">propping up Caracas</a> through intelligence support and military advisers, and Hegseth acknowledged that role during the hearing.
“I am well aware that Cubans have been around the globe to include attempting to defend Maduro in Venezuela,” Hegseth said. “That is something they’ve done for a long time.”
While the Pentagon has announced no direct military action against Cuba, Hegseth’s remarks are among the clearest public acknowledgments yet that the administration views the island’s regime not merely as a hostile government, but as an active strategic threat close to American shores.

Hegseth Confirmation Hearing TW

Hegseth Says Cuba Poses A National Security Threat As Tensions Rise

U.S.

Troops forced out over the COVID-19 vaccine may soon see a dramatic change as War Secretary Pete Hegseth — even for those who do not wish to return to military service.
Hegseth announced the change in a video posted to X on Friday afternoon, saying that he planned to restore missed payments and enlistment bonuses — as well as benefits denied based on unfavorable discharge characterizations.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Biden administration’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine mandate was wrongfully forced onto our warfighters.
It was unjust, and we are doing EVERYTHING we can to make it right. <a href="https://t.co/xLWpYd0sMc">pic.twitter.com/xLWpYd0sMc</a>
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/2052860665165992134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I&#8217;m directing the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness to establish a Department of War COVID-19 reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force,&#8221; Hegseth explained, noting that their first move would be to assist anyone who wanted to return to military service to do so. &#8220;The services have them right now. We&#8217;re establishing one at our level to oversee the entire thing. The task force&#8217;s goal is to bring back into service all those who desire to continue to serve our country in uniform.&#8221;
But Then Hegseth went on to say that changes were also coming for those who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine mandate under former President Joe Biden and opted not to put the uniform back on. Those who were denied education benefits due to a &#8220;general&#8221; discharge, Hegseth vowed, would have them restored.
&#8220;Even if you do not intend to return to service, the War Department will provide a path for resolution of unearned bonuses, upgrades to discharge characterizations that will unlock your well-deserved benefits, and removal of adverse documents from service files,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Further, I have directed a review of policies and decision-making to ensure that we do not go down this path again. You raised your right hand and sworn ill to serve and protect the Constitution and our nation.&#8221;
&#8220;You were mistreated by the Biden Pentagon, and we are fixing that injustice,&#8221; Hegseth concluded.
Between August of 2021 and the beginning of 2023, approximately 8,700 service members were forced out over Biden&#8217;s vaccine mandate — and more than one third of them (3,000) received &#8220;general&#8221; discharges rather than &#8220;honorable&#8221; discharges. Still more, because they were forced to separate prior to fulfilling their contracts, were denied promised enlistment bonuses and pay.
Typically those who receive a &#8220;general&#8221; discharge from military service are eligible to receive disability benefits and health care benefits through the VA, but can be denied access to education benefits through the post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
By March of 2026, some 600 Air Force members had already had their discharges upgraded. The Marine Corps and the Navy had the highest number of separations due to the vaccine mandate.

Secretary Hegseth Administers Oath Of Enlistment At Washington Monument

Troops Forced Out Under Biden Could Soon See Major Reversal

COVID-19 Vaccine

Joe Biden

WASHINGTON — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine both laughed off The Daily Wire&#8217;s questions about &#8220;kamikaze dolphins&#8221; last week, joking that while Iran does not have such capabilities, the United States wouldn&#8217;t reveal if it did.
While the phrase &#8220;kamikaze dolphin&#8221; certainly sounds fictional, a Navy spokesman clarified to The Daily Wire that there is a long history of the military using sea life in warfare through the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program. Some drone programs are mimicking the appearance and aesthetics of dolphins and sharks in modern-day weaponry.
Iranian officials <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-us-blockade-oil-641b89f2">told the Wall Street Journal this month</a> that Iran might use &#8220;mine-carrying dolphins&#8221; to attack U.S. warships, in addition to other measures like submarines or mines themselves. On Tuesday morning, during a press briefing at the Department of War, The Daily Wire pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine about this claim.
“I haven’t heard the kamikaze dolphins thing — it’s like sharks with laser beams, right?” joked Caine, referencing the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
“I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins,” Hegseth said with a smile, “but I can confirm they don’t.”
Meanwhile, Iran-affiliated accounts, which closely follow American news cycles, have responded to the kamikaze dolphins news cycle with AI-generated images of dolphins equipped with explosives.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Say hello to these cute dolphins who&#8217;ll be giving love bites to &#8230; You know whom 😌 <a href="https://t.co/dbTLa3QVIa">pic.twitter.com/dbTLa3QVIa</a>
— True Promise &#8211; الوعد الصادق ✪🇮🇷 (@IRTruePromise) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRTruePromise/status/2052353591424241949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
Dolphins have long been used &#8220;to detect, locate, mark and recover objects in harbors, coastal areas, and at depth in the open sea,&#8221; according to the U.S. Navy&#8217;s Marine Mammal Program.
Scott Savitz, an expert on mines and a senior engineer at the think tank Rand Corporation, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/05/iran-war-hegseth-kamikaze-dolphins.html">pointed out to CNBC</a> that during the Vietnam War, the Navy even trained dolphins to locate swimmers trying to access U.S. military facilities, and during the Iraq War, dolphins helped find and clear naval mines from the port of Umm Qasr.
&#8220;The U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program began in 1959 and has supported maritime security missions for decades using bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions,&#8221; a Navy spokesman told The Daily Wire. &#8220;The program supported missions including mine countermeasures, object recovery, and harbor security. Elements of the program’s history, including deployments during the Vietnam War, have been publicly documented.&#8221;
The Navy spokesman noted that the Navy&#8217;s marine mammals are &#8220;trained, cared for, and handled by professional personnel, with animal welfare and safety central to all operations.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1092181" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamikaze-dolphins-real-underwater-drone-investigation/defense-secretary-hegseth-and-joint-chiefs-chairman-caine-brief-media-at-pentagon" rel="attachment wp-att-1092181"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1092181" class="wp-image-1092181 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/GettyImages-2274634271-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/GettyImages-2274634271-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/GettyImages-2274634271-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/GettyImages-2274634271-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/GettyImages-2274634271.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA &#8211; MAY 05: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth takes questions during a press briefing at the Pentagon on May 05, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;As with many long-running military programs, fictional portrayals, speculation, and misinformation have contributed to public misconceptions regarding the Navy&#8217;s Marine Mammal Program and its mission,&#8221; he explained.
The Navy&#8217;s program is focused on defensive maritime missions, the spokesman stressed, noting that the Navy doesn&#8217;t discuss specific operational capabilities or procedures or speculate about hypothetical missions.
&#8220;The Navy is aware of public reporting regarding marine mammal programs in other countries,&#8221; the spokesman added. &#8220;As a matter of longstanding policy, we will not discuss foreign military capabilities or intelligence assessments.”
Meanwhile, groups like Cardona Marine Group are creating their very own &#8220;kamikaze dolphins&#8221; in the form of the &#8220;Sea-Predator 7,&#8221; a combat drone that is designed to sink or disable large vessels and engineered for both surface and underwater deployment. The Sea Predator 7 is currently in development and Cardona Marine Group has been in talks with the United States Navy about their product.
The drone is inspired by a shark and has shark skin hydrodynamics with riblet-textured armor and a &#8220;custom Flume Drive propulsion system&#8221; that make it virtually undetectable, according to its maker, while its hull is built with ballistic composites. A spokesman for the company claimed that a swarm of them can take out a group of enemy ships by sneaking up to a submarine or aircraft carrier undetected.
“The Sea-Predator 7 can operate alone or as part of a swarm, submerging until the right moment to surface, deploy its armaments, and then vanish again from detection,” explains John Cardona, President of Cardona Marine Group. “Beyond strike capabilities, it is built to perform mission-critical tasks including anti-mine warfare, reconnaissance, special operations support, force multiplication, logistics, stealth operations, and underwater surveillance.&#8221;
Cardona Marine Group would very much like to see their drones in the hands of the United States Navy.
There are unmanned underwater vehicles being developed by the United States Navy itself, such as the &#8220;Ghostswimmer unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV).&#8221; The Navy was testing the Ghostswimmer as far back as 2014 as part of the Rapid Innovation Cell project, Silent NEMO. At about five feet long and 100 pounds, the Ghostswimmer was designed to mimic the shape and style of a large fish like a shark.
&#8220;It swims just like a fish does by oscillating its tail fin back and forth,&#8221; Michael Rufo, director of Boston Engineering&#8217;s Advanced Systems Group, <a href="https://www.doncio.navy.mil/CHIPS/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=5839">explained in 2014</a>. &#8220;The unit is a combination of unmanned systems engineering and unique propulsion and control capabilities.&#8221;
While the Ghostswimmer isn&#8217;t known to be equipped with weapons, it can stealthily provide the military with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. And other versions of the product, like the Ghost Shark XL-AUV developed by Anduril Industries for the Royal Australian Navy, are in fact armed and dangerous.
Then there&#8217;s the &#8220;Manta Ray Drone,&#8221; an autonomous underwater vehicle developed by Northrop Grumman for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Manta Ray, shaped like the fish it is named for, glides silently under the water, borrowing a &#8220;trick from nature,&#8221; as <a href="https://defensefeeds.com/military-tech/navy/uuvs/manta-ray-drone/#:~:text=Drone%20slips%20in.-,Photo%3A%20Northrop%20Grumman,collecting%20data%20over%20extended%20periods.">Defense Feeds described last month</a>, gliding rather than fighting the water, &#8220;conserving energy in a way that seems almost unfair.&#8221; It can even power down on the floor of the ocean in order to stay hidden. 
The Manta Ray is <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/news/2024/manta-ray-uuv-prototype#:~:text=The%20Manta%20Ray%20prototype%20uncrewed,in%20February%20and%20March%202024.">currently being tested</a> in real-world naval environments. With its payload-capable design, it could carry a variety of mission-specific tools, including weapons.

8f835cb6-1544-4dcd-87be-94a9662bfb3b

Are ‘Kamikaze Dolphins’ Real? The Daily Wire Investigates

Department of War

United States

A routine national security briefing took an unexpected turn Tuesday when The Daily Wire’s White House Correspondent, Mary Margaret Olohan, pressed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on reports of so-called “kamikaze dolphins,” prompting a moment of levity inside the room.
Olohan, asking about conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, raised both the issue of naval mines and the unusual reports circulating about weaponized marine animals. “For Secretary Hegseth, are there still concerns about mines in the strait,” she asked, “and can you kind of clarify these reports of kamikaze dolphins that we’ve heard about?”
Hegseth initially reacted with surprised laughter: “What?!”
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;">  <iframe style="aspect-ratio: 9/16; max-width: 220px; display: flex; justify-content: center; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/01YblO5NDgZpmQpTpr6fO00PxME006tMLd7?metadata-video-content-type=short&amp;metadata-video-id=f8be299b-ec00-4dbd-b86f-6d33022df12c&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=Daily%20Wire%20asks%20Pentagon%20question%20everyone%20wants%20to%20know%3A%20What%20about%20those%20%E2%80%98kamikaze%20dolphins%E2%80%99&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fshorts%2F9bf02b3a-c8bb-4b35-a1a8-de47b45d7c88.jpg&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
&nbsp;
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine interjected, joking, “I haven’t heard the kamikaze dolphins thing — it’s like sharks with laser beams, right?” referencing the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
Hegseth continued the lighthearted exchange before pivoting back to substance. “I can’t confirm or deny whether we have kamikaze dolphins,” he said, drawing laughter, “but I can confirm they don’t.”
Despite the humor, Hegseth addressed the underlying concern, noting that U.S. and allied forces are maintaining safe maritime conditions in the region.
“Ultimately, any follow-on effort, if there are mines identified, would be something that some of our units could undertake or the world could undertake,” he said. “But right now, we know we have a lane of safe passage that commercial shipping can flow through.” The exchange comes amid renewed attention on the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, as tensions with Iran continue to simmer.
<a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/us-news/iran-eyeing-mine-carrying-dolphins-to-attack-us-warships-in-strait-of-hormuz/">Recent reports</a> have suggested that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has explored unconventional tactics to disrupt shipping in the region, including the potential use of trained dolphins equipped with explosives. Iran has previously acquired marine mammals trained by the Soviet Union, with programs that included attaching devices such as mines or harpoon launchers for naval operations.
While such claims remain speculative, they reflect broader concerns about asymmetric tactics in the region as Tehran weighs responses to ongoing economic pressure and maritime restrictions.
For a brief moment, however, those concerns gave way to humor, with Olohan’s question cutting through the formality of the briefing room and producing one of the more memorable exchanges of the day.

Dolphins in Caribbean Sea water

‘Kamikaze Dolphins’? The Daily Wire Asks Trump Admin What Everyone Wants To Know

Dolphin

Iran war

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump alerted Congress to changes in the U.S. approach to Operation Epic Fury in a war powers letter sent Friday afternoon, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Daily Wire.
The letter informs Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Chuck Grassley, president pro tempore of the United States Senate, of &#8220;changes in the posture of the United States Forces&#8221; in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, as part of the president&#8217;s efforts to &#8220;keep Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.&#8221;
Trump reminded Congress that he reported to them on March 2 that the U.S. had begun Operation Epic Fury by conducting precision strikes against Iran on February 28.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: President Donald Trump&#8217;s war powers letter alerting Congress to changes in the United States approach to Operation Epic Fury.
“Accordingly, the Department of War continues to update its force posture in the AoR in select countries, as necessary and appropriate, to address… <a href="https://t.co/ch6bdl3VHd">pic.twitter.com/ch6bdl3VHd</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2050285769906929695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I ordered that operation consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests at home and abroad, and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,&#8221; the letter states.
&#8220;On April 7, 2026, I ordered a 2-week ceasefire,&#8221; Trump notes. &#8220;The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.&#8221;
Though the United States has been successful in its operations against Iran, the letter notes, &#8220;the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our Armed Forces remains significant.&#8221;
The letter, by declaring that hostilities with Iran have been &#8220;terminated,&#8221; effectively sidestepped a May 1 deadline to seek congressional approval for the war Trump launched two months ago — preserving his ability to resume strikes without returning to Congress.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-war-powers-letter-to-congress-trump-shares-changes-coming-to-iran-war/screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12-47-06-pm" rel="attachment wp-att-1088185"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1088185 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12.47.06-PM.png" alt="" width="920" height="1200" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12.47.06-PM.png 920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12.47.06-PM-230x300.png 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12.47.06-PM-442x576.png 442w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-12.47.06-PM-768x1002.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px" /></a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/in-war-powers-letter-to-congress-trump-shares-changes-coming-to-iran-war/war-powers" rel="attachment wp-att-1088189"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1088189 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/war-powers.png" alt="" width="928" height="1212" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/war-powers.png 928w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/war-powers-230x300.png 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/war-powers-441x576.png 441w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/war-powers-768x1003.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /></a>
&#8220;Accordingly, the Department of War continues to update its force posture in the AoR in select countries, as necessary and appropriate, to address Iranian and Iranian proxy forces&#8217; threats and to protect the United States and its allies and partners,&#8221; the letter continues. &#8220;These changes are more fully outlined in the classified attachment to this letter. I have and will continue to direct United States Armed Forces consistent with my responsibilities and pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.&#8221;
Trump concludes the letter by promising to update Congress on any &#8220;noteworthy changes,&#8221; consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
The letter was made public amid murmurs that the president may resume strikes against Iran, which has submitted a new proposal for negotiations with the United States through Pakistani mediators, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The move comes after President Trump rejected a previous offer and extended the ceasefire indefinitely, citing internal divisions within the Iranian government that have delayed consensus on a deal.
Iran is using the current ceasefire with the United States to recover weapons and rebuild its capabilities, according to NBC News, citing U.S. officials. The report says Iranian forces have intensified efforts to dig out missiles, drones, and other munitions that were hidden underground or buried beneath debris following U.S. and Israeli strikes.
U.S. officials reportedly believe Tehran is trying to quickly restore its missile and drone capabilities in case fighting resumes, allowing it to launch attacks across the Middle East if necessary.
Trump shared Friday afternoon that Iran has offered a new proposal to the United States to end the war. But the president is not satisfied with the terms that Iran offered.
&#8220;We just had a conversation with Iran,&#8221; the president told reporters Friday as he prepared to depart the White House on Marine One, headed to Florida. &#8220;Let&#8217;s see what happens, but I would say that I&#8217;m not happy.&#8221;
&#8220;They&#8217;ve got to come up with the right deal,&#8221; he added. &#8220;At this moment, I&#8217;m not satisfied with what they&#8217;re offering.&#8221;

Donald Trump Delivers Joint Address To Congress

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Signals Legal Path To Restart Iran Fight In Letter To Congress

Congress

Pentagon

Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton suggested that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth could be executed for war crimes.
CNN host Erin Burnett played an exchange Moulton had with Hegseth in which Moulton attacked the War Secretary for saying the U.S. military should &#8220;keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies” regarding the war with Iran, prompting Moulton to accuse Hegseth of inciting soldiers to commit war crimes.
Burnett then turned to Moulton and asked, “Do you believe that the Secretary of Defense is guilty of war crimes?”
“Absolutely,” Moulton answered. “I mean, he&#8217;s clearly behind the operation to shoot all these boats in the Caribbean when it&#8217;s very unclear that we actually have any confirmation that these so-called narco-terrorists — a term the administration invented to justify this action, are even on the boats. I mean, in fact, there&#8217;s a lot of evidence that these are just fishermen, you know, getting jobs, piloting these boats, trying to feed their families. There&#8217;s been press reporting on some of these individuals who&#8217;ve been killed who are clearly not criminals. And on top of that, we then have the strike where they came back and hit it again, a double tap, just purely to kill these survivors who were clinging to wreckage.”
Then Moulton went beyond the pale: “It’s interesting, Erin, back in World War II, the Allies tried Nazi submarine captains for doing this exact same thing. And guess what the conclusion was? They got executed.”
“Listen to that, Mr. Secretary,” he taunted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
INSANE
Democrat Rep. Seth Moulton FLAT OUT LIES to defend narcoterrorists and compares our military to “Nazis.”
MOULTON: “Back in WWII the allies tried Nazi submarine captains for doing this exact same thing…they got executed. Listen to that Mr. Secretary [Hegseth].” <a href="https://t.co/gAMSaDJ6Gg">pic.twitter.com/gAMSaDJ6Gg</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2049634784884723721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
In late March, Moulton appeared on CNN with host Anderson Cooper, where he huffed and puffed about the U.S. losing the war with Iran, saying:
<blockquote>
There is absolutely no plan. The administration clearly can&#8217;t even understand why they&#8217;re in this war, what their strategy is to get out of it. If you look every step of the way, they&#8217;re doing things, they&#8217;re changing their goals. They&#8217;re doing things that don&#8217;t even necessarily contribute to their goals. Apparently now, their primary goal is reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which, let&#8217;s be clear, was open before Trump started this war of choice.
So, the reality is, at this moment, we are losing this war. If Trump were to stop the war tonight, he would have to negotiate with the Iranians to reopen the strait that they have closed. That&#8217;s why he&#8217;s begging, he&#8217;s begging our greatest adversary, the People&#8217;s Republic of China. The Chinese Communist Party. He&#8217;s asking to come and bail him out to reopen this Strait. It&#8217;s an unmitigated disaster. It&#8217;s very clear they don&#8217;t have a plan going forward.</blockquote>

MixCollage-01-May-2026-10-26-AM-450

UNHINGED: Dem Rep Compares Hegseth To Nazi War Criminals, Invokes Death Penalty

narcoterrorists

seth moulton

War crimes

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