Pete Hegseth is brushing aside Tucker Carlson’s blistering criticism of the Trump administration’s war in Iran. The Pentagon chief made clear that outside attacks would not change the military’s course. The exchange adds another chapter to the widening split between Donald Trump and influential conservative voices who once backed him.
Hegseth shrugged off Carlson’s attack, saying the administration answers to “patriotic Americans,” not critics
RadarOnline resurfaced Hegseth’s response Aug. 5, but the remarks came during a March 13 Pentagon briefing. A reporter asked about Carlson calling the war “absolutely disgusting and evil” and criticizing Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender.
“We’re busy executing on behalf of great patriotic Americans with a clear mission that’s 47 years overdue,” Hegseth said, according to the official Pentagon transcript. He added that the administration would continue carrying out that mission regardless of what critics said.
Carlson made his original comments during a Feb. 28 interview with ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl. The former Fox News host condemned the joint U.S.-Israel operation and predicted that it would reshape Trump’s political movement.
He later argued that forcing unconditional surrender would require extreme violence against Iran’s population. Carlson also questioned whether the United States had enough troops or public support to achieve that objective without escalating the conflict.
The criticism marked a sharp break between Carlson and Trump. Carlson had been one of the president’s best-known media allies, but he has since apologized for helping persuade voters to support Trump and repeatedly attacked the Iran campaign.
Trump responded by saying Carlson had “lost his way” and was no longer part of the MAGA movement. Hegseth avoided attacking Carlson personally, but his answer dismissed the warning as irrelevant to the administration’s plans.
Trump has continued to defend Hegseth’s handling of the war, recently saying the Pentagon chief “has done a great job.” Hegseth has also faced questions over his claim that the administration can continue strikes without congressional authorization.
More recently, a new Pentagon casualty category prompted cover-up accusations. An AP-NORC poll also found that 64% of U.S. adults believed the conflict was not worth fighting.
Hegseth’s response suggests the administration has little interest in changing course because of criticism from Carlson or other conservative figures. Whether voters share that confidence remains another question.
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Originally reported by Misbah Pandith on Reality Tea
