After standing behind his boss like a brainless totem pole on Saturday evening, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth kicked off his Sunday morning press briefing with a verbal fusillade of praise for Donald Trump that was so over-the-top it immediately drew waves of social media mockery.
“Last night, on President Trump’s orders, U.S. Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program,” Hegseth began. “And as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will demonstrate, it was an incredible and overwhelming success.”
“The order we received from our commander-in-chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear,” Hegseth continued. “We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Full stop.”
The defense chief was only getting warmed up.
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,” he said. “Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program, and none could until President Trump. The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back.”
“When this president speaks, the world should listen. And the U.S. Military, we can back it up. The most powerful military the world has ever known. No other country on planet Earth could have conducted the operation that the chairman is gonna outline this morning. Not even close. Just like Soleimani found out in the first term.”
And there was more. Much, much more.
“Iran found out when POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiations. Otherwise, that nuclear program, that nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it. This is not the previous administration.”
“As President Trump said, no nukes. He seeks peace, and Iran should take that path. Sent out a truth last night saying this, any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight, signed the president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Iran would be smart to heed those words. He said it before, and he means it. “
Hegseth’s fawning over his orange savior got him pilloried online.
Using Hegseth’s own words, if and when terrorist attacks by Iran take American lives, we know who’s to blame: TACO Don.
Thanks for the road map, Pete. Now go finish off that pitcher of margaritas in your office.
