Pete Hegseth Needs An ‘attitude Adjustment’ After He Aired Familiar Grievances At Iran Briefing, John Bolton Says

John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s erstwhile nationalist information adviser, suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needs an “attitude adjustment” aft his briefing connected nan strikes against Iran.

Early Monday, Hegseth, alongside Gen. Dan Caine, nan chair of nan Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed reporters connected nan associated U.S.-Israeli strikes which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and different high-ranking officials.

Hegseth claimed nan conflict is “not a alleged authorities alteration war,” but noted that nan “regime judge did change, and nan world is amended disconnected for it.” He said nan operation’s goals are to “destroy Iranian violative missiles, destruct Iranian rocket production, destruct their navy and different information infrastructure, and [ensure] they will ne'er person atomic weapons."

This comes aft Trump called connected nan Iranian group to “take complete you government” successful a video shared connected Truth Social early Saturday. When CNN’s Jake Tapper asked connected Monday if nan U.S. is doing much beyond nan strikes to thief nan Iranian group regain power of nan country, Trump replied, “Yes.”

Bolton called Trump’s consequence to Tapper “important” arsenic he slammed Hegseth’s claims astatine nan property conference, suggesting his connection was astatine likelihood pinch nan president’s.

“Pete Hegseth needs to cheque pinch his leader connected what nan nonsubjective is,” Bolton told CNN big Kate Bolduan. “And by nan way, if nan large 1 is still to come, really does Hegseth explicate that we've already changed nan regime, which wasn't our objective?”

“I mean I deliberation nan Pentagon's apical leadership, civilian apical leadership, needs immoderate cognition adjustment. I deliberation nan military's doing fine, but I wonderment astir nan civilian leadership,” he added.

Hegseth was speedy to aerial acquainted grievances astatine nan property briefing arsenic he railed against “fake news” and nan “political left.” He besides pushed backmost connected nan thought that nan conflict could lead to an “endless war.”

“To nan media outlets and governmental near screaming ‘endless wars,’ stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth said. “Our procreation knows amended and truthful does this president.”

When asked astir Hegseth’s declare that nan extremity is not a authorities change, Bolton said nan defense caput should “talk to nan president.”

“He’s made it clear successful aggregate remarks that successful bid to reside nan threats to nan United States, Iran's effort to get atomic weapons, its support for world terrorism, you person to person authorities change. That's what he is saying. So, possibly Pete Hegseth hasn't seen nan latest property release,” he said.

Trump fired Bolton successful 2019 aft they many times fought complete overseas argumentation issues. Bolton has since been a vocal professional of Trump, and has moreover said he’s “unfit” to beryllium president. Bolton was besides indicted by nan Justice Department past twelvemonth connected respective counts related to nan mishandling of classified information. He pleaded not blameworthy successful October.

The Independent has contacted nan Pentagon for comment.