John Bolton says Hegseth needs 'attitude adjustment' after Iran briefing

Source: The Hill

03/02/26 12:38 PM ET


John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, accusing him of muddling the administration’s message regarding the goals of the weekend’s U.S. strikes against Iran. “Pete Hegseth needs to check with his boss on what the objective is,” Bolton told host Kate Bolduan on “CNN News Central.”

During a Monday morning press conference, Hegseth said the objectives of the military operation are to “destroy Iranian offensive missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure, and they will never have nuclear weapons.” But in the wake of the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes Saturday, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a slew of other political and military leaders, Trump urged Iranians to seize control of their country from the Islamic Republic.

“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take; this will be probably your only chance for generations,” the president said. Trump also told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday that the “big wave” of U.S. strikes against Iran “hasn’t even happened.” Hegseth said Monday that “this is not a so-called regime change war,” but the “regime sure did change.”

Bolton said the comments show the head of the Pentagon is not in lockstep with Trump. “If the big one is still to come, how does Hegseth explain that we’ve already changed the regime, which wasn’t our objective? I think the Pentagon top leadership, civilian top leadership, needs some attitude adjustment,” remarked Bolton, who also previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the administration of former President George W. Bush.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5762855-trump-pentagon-bolton-hegseth-iran-strikes/

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As a note, it was because Shrub did a Recess Appointment of Bolton to that U.N. position when no one wanted him anywhere in the adminhistration, that you now see the Senate (and even the House too) doing "Pro Forma" sessions, where they really don't "recess" (and will gavel in and gavel out every 3 days), thus never allowing a President to do a Recess Appointment. Former President Obama ignored the Pro Forma sessions, made some Recess appointments, and the SCOTUS invalidated those appointments, ruling that per the Constitution, each chamber can make their own rules -