Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked controversy over the weekend with his bold statements regarding the Iran war, drawing criticism on social media for his perceived insensitivity.
During an interview on “60 Minutes,” Hegseth was questioned about the potential increased threat to U.S. troops due to reports of Russian assistance to Iran in gathering intelligence to target them.
In response, Hegseth asserted, “We are not the ones at risk. It is our job to put others in danger, not the other way around. We have no concerns about that.”
He further added, “The only individuals who should be worried right now are the Iranians who believe they will survive.”
His remarks elicited strong backlash on social media, with critics accusing him of using inflammatory language regarding the ongoing conflict.
Chris Hayes of MSNBC weighed in, suggesting that from a propaganda standpoint, it might be more strategic to convey to the 91+ million Iranian civilians that the U.S. does not intend harm towards them.
