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Atlantic: Trump quizzes allies on Defense Secretary Hegseth's and Gen. Caine's performance

A Pentagon spokesman rejects the report and calls the Iran operations a "decisive success," as Trump weighs renewed strikes.

3 news outlets reported this
Liberal2 outletsTrump hunting for someone to blame over IranCenter0 outletslittle coverageConservative1 outletTrump's quiet questions about Hegseth, and new strikes
Published 3 min read
Overview

The Atlantic reported on Monday that President Trump has been asking allies how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are doing their jobs. The report came ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections. One outside adviser told the magazine, "Hegseth is good at telling the president what he wants to hear."

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell rejected the account. He said Hegseth always gives the president the full operational picture, and he told the Independent the outcome of operations in Iran is a "decisive success." The US and Israel began the war on Feb. 28, and at least 23 US soldiers have been killed, according to the Independent.

In the run-up to the midterms, Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon's top war planner. The Daily Mail, citing officials, says Sylvia failed tests tied to a leak inquiry. Trump is weighing renewed combat against Iran after the midterms.

The Daily Mail says advisers said a new round of strikes could come within days of the vote. If Trump strikes, it reports, the choices run from a few hours to several weeks. The other options it lists are keeping the naval blockade of the in place while threatening more, or walking away.

Key figures
  • At least 23 US soldiers killed in the Iran war, per the Independent — The Independent (US)
  • Feb. 28 date the US and Israel launched the Iran war — The Independent (US)
  • More than two dozen generals and admirals forced out under Hegseth, per the Daily Mail — Daily Mail

Three sides of the story

Liberal2 outlets

Trump hunting for someone to blame over Iran

The New Republic opens with Trump looking for someone to blame. Citing a Monday Atlantic report, it says he is reportedly examining his Cabinet for a possible fall guy, with Hegseth and Caine at the top. It adds that he reportedly called confidants about chief of staff Susie Wiles, and that Sylvia is at least the fifth general Hegseth has forced out or fired.

The Independent leads with the Atlantic's report that Hegseth relates the war to Trump in "rosy terms." It describes a conflict that has "largely been mired in stalemate" for months, with at least 23 US soldiers killed and Americans paying more for gas because of the Hormuz blockade. It says Hegseth could face an impeachment push if Democrats win Congress.

Both carry Parnell's response. The Independent quotes him: "The American people don't buy The Atlantic's lies."

Center0 outlets

Little centrist coverage of this story

Outlets on this side gave the story little coverage.

Conservative1 outlet

Trump's quiet questions about Hegseth, and new strikes

The Daily Mail's headline calls it a "secret plot to knife Pete Hegseth" as the White House plans fresh Iran strikes. In its own voice, it says Trump is secretly asking close advisers whether Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine should be fired after the midterms, and it cites the Atlantic for the same questioning. It says Hegseth, Caine and Adm. Brad Cooper walked Trump and Vice President Vance through options at the White House.

If Trump strikes, the choices run from a few hours to several weeks, and one scenario targets Iran's nuclear program. The other options it lists are keeping the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while threatening more, or walking away. Citing an Israeli and an American source speaking to Axios, it reports a blunt Saturday phone call.

Netanyahu is pushing for a strike right after Tuesday's midterms, while Trump wants negotiations to continue. It adds that officials said Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, whom Hegseth fired, failed polygraphs tied to a leak investigation. Pentagon sources told it they have compiled files in case Democrats open an impeachment investigation in 2027.

All sources: 3 articles from 3 outlets

Liberal (2)

Conservative (1)

Related
Polygraph (lie detector)

A machine that records pulse, breathing and sweating while a person answers questions. Its results are not reliable enough for most US courts, but security agencies use it in hiring and leak investigations.

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Strait of Hormuz

The narrow sea passage between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which tankers leave the Persian Gulf. About a fifth of the world's oil normally passes through it, so any threat there moves fuel prices worldwide.

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