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The US Secretary of Defense prays that no bullet misses the target. For Trump's war on Iran, he is the ideal figurehead for promoting...
When Donald Trump nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense, he knew his profile: politically inexperienced but ideologically nationalist. A tall man with a TV presence and strong statements. A figure to the president's taste.
Hegseth was supposed to free the military from any “wokeness” and pull it out of the clutches of the “deep state.” A Pentagon leader who, in peacetime, focuses his attention domestically. For that reason alone, many considered him unsuitable. Three Republican senators voted against his confirmation; only the casting vote of Vice President JD Vance carried Hegseth through.
In public, the former National Guardsman has struggled for a long time. Reports emerged of sexual assault against a woman in 2017, alcohol abuse, and embezzlement of funds raised for veterans. Last December, the Signal Communications scandal, in which senior security officials shared sensitive military information, led to speculation that Trump might replace his own defense secretary. Then came the Iran war. And with it, Hegseth appeared in a suit on the Pentagon podium.
"Let's make war attractive again"
The minister, in his press conferences, breaks all the rules of war communication. Instead of cold descriptions of the situation, he talks about death and destruction falling from the sky, creates slogans and ridicules “politically correct wars”. In his rhetoric, based on victory, dominance and strength, there are no mistakes, only incorrect reporting by the media that he considers hostile.
Hegseth's analysis is, for example, that there is only one factor hindering maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and that is Iranian attacks on ships. Otherwise, according to him, the passage is open for trade. That's how it can be formulated.
For Trump, all of this seems like proof that he has chosen the right man for the job. “Let’s make war attractive again.” The president has no interest in soft facts. He himself contradicts himself when it comes to the situation and objectives in Iran.
What he needs is a determined defender of his cause. And he has that in Hegseth. His patriotic slogans are understandable to anyone. Mixed with Christian nationalism, Hegseth calls himself an American crusader, they cover a large part of Trump's base.
When the minister recently prayed that every bullet would hit the enemy target, the Pope also reacted. He did not mention Hegseth by name, but it is unclear to whom else Leo XIV's criticism of war-mongering prayers might have been directed.
The minister was one of the first to recommend war against Iran to Trump. In addition to American dominance, it seems that personal financial interest was also important to him.
According to the Financial Times, the minister had attempted to invest $1 million in a defense industry fund, which benefits from increased military spending, before the attacks began. This did not materialize; the Pentagon later called the report a smear campaign.
In this administration, loyalty is more important than integrity. Hegseth is Trump's staunch advocate for war with Iran. It's no surprise that he has reportedly expressed disappointment that the war may end soon. /Adapted from FAZ /
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