USA

‘When did the president decide to capitulate?’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared uncomfortable Tuesday after a reporter asked him when he decided to give in to President Trump’s initial demands for Iran’s unconditional surrender.

In a tense speech at a press conference at the Pentagon, Newsmax’s James Rosen noted Trump’s changing justifications for the war with Tehran that began on February 28 and questioned the president’s changing rhetoric after initially offering his “gratitude and admiration” for Hegseth and US forces.

“First of all, I want to express my gratitude and admiration for the work you are doing, to everyone in our armed forces, and also to the accomplishments of Operation Epic Fury, which I think is often underestimated,” Rosen told Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

“But these successes do not hide, in my opinion, a centralized default that is occurring here, and I would like you both to address this issue,” he added. “On the first day of this conflict, President Trump addressed the Iranian people directly and said: ‘When we’re done, take over the government. It will be yours.’ “On the seventh day of the conflict, in a post on Truth Social, the president said, ‘There will be no deal with Iran,’ except for the exclamation point ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,’ written in all capital letters.”

Rosen continued: “What happens to that promise to the Iranians? So when did the president decide to give in to the demand for unconditional surrender?”

Hegseth insisted that Trump “hasn’t given in on anything” and attacked Rosen for asking the question.

“James, I wouldn’t do that – You started well but you ended exactly where we knew you would end,” the defense chief responded.

“The President has not surrendered on anything. The cards are in his hands, we maintain the upper hand, and the Freedom Project only strengthens that hand,” Hegseth continued. “And so, whatever deal is made or the end state that is reached will ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon, which is A No. 1.”

“And that’s what he’s focused on, that’s what the agreement and the discussions are focused on. And what the Iranian people benefit from next is up to them,” he added. “And he was very open about it.”

At the beginning of the conflict, Trump called on the Iranian people to take back the country from the regime, demanding unconditional surrender from Tehran. But as the Middle East conflict continued, the president changed his tune, declaring that a regime change had been achieved by “destroying” Iran’s original leaders and replacing them with a new set of individuals.

The United States is currently in a fragile ceasefire agreement with Iran that Trump has extended indefinitely. To ensure that the regime reaches a peace agreement on April 21. He claimed this many times Despite constantly making new threats against Tehran, the conflict is nearing its end.

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