Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs Chair News Conference

[0:00] C-SPAN.org. We take you live now to the Pentagon for a press briefing with Defense Secretary Pete [0:05] Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Koehn. You're watching live coverage [0:10] here on C-SPAN 2. Well, over the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit our troops [0:17] fighting in Operation Epic Fury. We were in the ground, or on the ground, excuse me, in CENTCOM [0:24] on Saturday for about half the day. For reasons of operational security, so those troops are not [0:31] targeted, the places and bases will not be named. Suffice it to say, the trip was an honor. I had a [0:41] chance to bear witness, and I witnessed the best of America. I witnessed warriors, a brotherhood [0:50] of men and women, warriors all, active duty, guard, and reserve, united in their love for each other, [0:57] their shared purpose, and their commitment to the mission. I witnessed sheer competency. I watched [1:05] a private first class confidently calling out an enemy, [1:09] and I witnessed the best of America. I witnessed the best of America. I witnessed the best of America. [1:19] I spoke to Air Force and Navy pilots on the flight line who every day both deliver bombs deep into [1:25] Iran, but also shoot down drones defending their base. Many had just returned from the skies of [1:34] Iran and Tehran. I put on a headset and spoke to one crew in the cockpit, locked and loaded, [1:42] each in his own place. I was able to hear the shots of the army in the air. I was able to [1:42] hear the shots of the army in the air. I was able to hear the shots of the army in the air. I was able to [1:42] and every day. I witnessed ingenuity, American ingenuity. I met the young army officer who [1:49] figured out how to neutralize maneuvering enemy missiles, saving countless lives. His commander [1:54] confirmed that the whoops and cheers erupted in the tactical operations center when his new [2:00] approach was first successful. I met the Air Force intel analyst who refines target packages faster [2:07] than the enemy can adapt. I actually gave him my card and told him to keep me posted on the ground [2:14] truth. I did the same with his boss, a colonel with a heart the size of Texas and a beautiful [2:24] deployment mustache to match. I witnessed lethality. I met a junior airman as the sun was [2:33] going down and a chill was setting on the tarmac who, when asked what they needed, she simply looked [2:40] up at me with a sly smile on her face and said, more bombs, sir, and bigger bombs. We will happily [2:51] oblige her. I met the army targeting team who [2:55] found and sunk the pride and joy of the Iranian Navy, their fighting position plastered with [3:00] images of sunken enemy ships. And I witnessed urgency. Right when we landed, another C-17 [3:08] landed just minutes after us. And within 30 seconds of the aircraft coming to a full stop, [3:15] a team on the ground pulled up and the cargo was being uploaded. Wartime speed. To a man and to a [3:22] woman, on the ground, in the air, on the flight line, and in the talk, I heard, [3:29] I want everything faster. Higher op tempo. Wartime speed. The feeling was the exact opposite [3:38] of the rotational units year after year in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that we're so familiar [3:43] with. In those wars, it was always about the next rotation, never knowing when the mission would end [3:49] or exactly what the mission was, year after year, not with epic fury. I witnessed urgency to finish [3:58] the job, urgency to achieve mission success, not looking at the next rotation. [4:03] Only moving as fast as possible to win. I got a chance to troop the line, to witness firsthand [4:12] what we already know is true. Spoke to all ranks and all services, none of whom knew we were coming. [4:18] It was not rehearsed or scripted. Sometimes we just wandered. What I witnessed was motivation. [4:25] It was sheer mission focus. It was the American warrior unleashed. It was the kind of warfighting [4:33] American spirit that comes with a clear mission against a determined enemy. A crew chief we flew [4:41] up nicely. He said, it's been a busy few weeks, sir. Tough stuff. But I'm so honored to be called up. [4:48] This fight is long overdue. We need to address it for our kids. We cannot pass the buck. Please [4:55] thank the president from us. I heard that time and time again. I asked each young American, [5:03] what do you need? And nobody said better equipment. Nobody said more comfortable living conditions. [5:09] Nobody said send me home. Well, of course, eventually we want all those things. They do too. [5:16] But what those Americans said, [5:18] to me, young and old, officer and NCO, male and female, black and white, was let's finish [5:26] the mission. Get us even more bombs, bigger bombs, more targets. Let us finish this. In fact, [5:34] Admiral Cooper noted this morning that the three Air Force captains shot down by Kuwaiti friendly [5:39] fire early in the fight weeks ago. They never left the theater. All dropped bombs over Tehran [5:47] last night. These men and women live the Iranian threat every day. [5:53] Incoming missiles and drones and know what a world looks like, what the world would look like [5:58] if Iran had the most dangerous weapons in the world, a nuclear weapon. As President Trump has [6:04] said time and time again for years and in this administration, Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb [6:09] and they won't. These troops, they want to finish this fight for their kids and their grandkids. [6:15] This is about history. This is about legacy. Success matters. And because of this president [6:24] and these Americans, we're closer than ever before. [6:27] President Trump is doing what no other president had the guts to do. Previous presidents were [6:35] all talk. He's all action. On the battlefield, because of the latitude the president has given [6:42] us, American firepower is only increasing. Iran's decreasing. We have more and more options and [6:51] they have less. Just one month in, only one month, we set the terms. The upcoming days will be [7:00] decisive. Iran knows that and there's almost nothing they can militarily do. [7:04] Yes, they will still shoot some missiles, but we will shoot them down. Of note, the last 24 hours [7:12] saw the lowest number of enemy missiles and drones fired by Iran. They will go underground, [7:19] but we will find them. We recently destroyed another one of their command bunkers. Leaders [7:26] forced to flee. No water, no power, no oxygen, no command and control. Their faith in their caves [7:33] diminishing. The latest intel is clear out of CENTCOM. Our strikes are damaging the morale [7:41] of the Iranian military, leading to widespread desertions, key personnel shortages and causing [7:46] frustrations amongst senior leaders. Just last night, we had 200 dynamic strikes alone. Dynamic [7:55] strike is a strike where a pilot leaves and during their flight, they get a new target set based on [8:00] real-time intel given to them. A new launcher, a new location, a new troop formation. A dynamic [8:07] target is one that changes while you're in the air because of improved intelligence. 200 dynamic [8:12] strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic [8:12] strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic [8:12] strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone. We had 200 dynamic strikes alone in addition to the [8:13] pre-planned targets. The video the president posted last night of Esfahan, an ammo depot struck [8:20] by U.S. bombers. You see, you don't get to see many of those videos because, as a reminder, Iran [8:27] has still shut off the internet to 99.9% of its population. But if Iran is wise, they will cut a [8:36] deal. President Trump doesn't bluff and he does not back down. You can ask Khomeini about that. [8:43] The new Iranian regime should know that by now. This new regime, because regime change has a [8:50] occurred, should be wiser than the last. President Trump will make a deal. He is willing. And the [8:58] terms of the deal are known to them. If Iran is not willing, then the United States War Department [9:03] will continue with even more intensity. Standing here this morning in this briefing room, in my [9:12] mind's eye, I'm actually looking out at the groups I met this weekend. The pilots, the logisticians, [9:21] the intel analysts, the targeters, the sustainers, the flight crews, the air defenders, the base [9:27] security, those maintainers who we walked up at sunset with the chill and the air on the flight [9:35] line. May God watch over all of them each day and each night. May his almighty and eternal arms of [9:45] providence stretch over them and protect them and bring them peace. In the name of Jesus Christ and [9:54] amen. Mr. Chairman, over to you. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Good morning, everyone. And thank you [9:59] again for being here. As operations continue, I remain deeply grateful for the support and [10:03] determination of 2.8 million members of our joint force, each of whom are serving something greater [10:10] than themselves. Every day, those deployed and in many cases, those at home who are deploying [10:16] forward and bomber pulses and others put themselves in harm's way. And we owe them a deep [10:21] debt of gratitude. I remain especially grateful for our fallen who gave the ultimate sacrifice. [10:28] We'll never forget their valor and their determination to do something [10:33] greater than themselves. And each day we continue to earn what they've given to us. This morning, I [10:39] want to share that yesterday, the joint force had the honor of participating in the burial of Colonel [10:45] Clarence Emil Budd Anderson, who passed away in May of 2024 at the ripe old age of 102. He was laid [10:54] to rest in Arlington Cemetery yesterday morning alongside his wife of 70 years, Eleanor, who he [11:03] married in 1945. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 92. But yesterday, a legend to our Air Force and [11:11] fighter pilots everywhere was honored with a combination flyby of F-35s and a four ship of P-51 [11:18] Mustangs. He was one of the most prolific flying aces of World War II and the highest scoring P-51 [11:24] ace with 16 and a quarter kills in his squadron and in his group. And he served from 1942 to [11:33] 1972. And his last combat tour was flying F-104 Thunder Chiefs over North Vietnam. For anyone that had the [11:41] chance to meet Colonel Anderson, you knew what an incredibly special man he was. And that's true for each and [11:48] every one of our World War II vets who become fewer and fewer with each passing day. They are the greatest [11:54] generation and give us the gift of an incredible example as we execute Operation Epic Fury today. And Colonel [12:02] Anderson, we [12:03] mourn for your loss. And remember that smile on the right side as you went out to do our nation's business. I'd like to now share an [12:12] operational update. Our Joint Force continues to focus on our military objectives as we systematically continue to degrade and [12:20] destroy Iran's ability to project power and threaten stability beyond its borders. First, the Joint Force continues to [12:28] destroy Iran's ballistic missile and UAS capabilities. We remain focused on the [12:33] interdicting and destroying the logistical and supply chains that feed these programs. And this remains a truly joint effort and [12:43] prosecuted around the clock from air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. Long range bombers from U.S. Strategic [12:48] Command are coordinating with tactical fighter aircraft from our Joint Force, launched from bases around the region and [12:55] the continental United States. While simultaneously Navy fighters from the sea and Sailors continue to project fault and [12:58] storage equipment down to the MUR-484 in Syria and the three arms medals mounted in Iran's Mobile Command.해 [13:00] have a greater focus on live combat. να [13:03] power from the sea while Army and Marine artillery units continue to execute long-range precision [13:10] fires deep into enemy territory against high-value targets. Meanwhile, on the defense side, our Army [13:16] and Air Defenders and aviators, as the Secretary talked about, remain vigilant, forming a shield [13:22] to protect our forces and our partners intercepting missiles and drones. Together, we continue to [13:28] deliver precision strikes against key manufacturing nodes, component storage sites, research facilities [13:35] deep within Iranian territory. And over the past 29, I'm sorry, 30 days, we've struck more than [13:42] 11,000 targets. Given the increase in air superiority, we've successfully started to [13:48] conduct the first overland B-52 missions, which allow us, as we've said before, to continue to [13:55] get on top of the enemy. And as the Secretary said, we're going to continue to get on top of the [13:58] enemy. And as the Secretary said, we're going to continue to get on top of the enemy. And as the [13:58] Secretary talked about, switch towards more and more dynamic targets, servicing mobile targets [14:06] around the battle space. We've continued to do the work against Iran's missile, drone, and naval [14:13] production facilities, and we continue the multi-domain pressure that we've talked about. [14:18] Second, on the Navy front, we continue to assert dominance over the Iranian Navy. We remain [14:24] focused on targeting their mine lane capability, their naval assets, and we've now [14:29] as I mentioned briefly last time, started to work attack helicopters and other close air support [14:34] assets into the naval domain. CENTCOM continues to identify and work against naval depots and [14:41] storage areas. And we've taken out, again, more than 150 ships, including all Jamaran-class [14:48] frigates inside their Navy. Third, we continue to prosecute our campaign against our defense [14:54] industrial base at scale. This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons, [14:59] research, and development labs. And the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstruct [15:07] combat capability. I would like to continue my theme of highlighting the incredible contributions [15:13] of Americans to our joint force. Today I want to talk a little bit about a different front line, a [15:19] line that doesn't have bunkers or guard posts, but is just as critical to our nation's security, our [15:26] National Assembly lines. [15:28] And beyond the line, there needs to be a system in place to propagate at the nations од mitigate the [15:29] to recognize a group of Americans who live at the beginning of our nation's combat power, [15:34] the Americans who actually make our weapons both inside our defense industrial base, [15:40] but even more broadly inside our national industrial base. In every military option, [15:47] we could not and cannot do our jobs without the men and women across our country who show up every [15:54] day around the clock, to a factory floor, a workshop, a laboratory, who build the weapons [16:01] and capabilities we need to project American combat power at the time and place of our choosing. [16:07] These great Americans, and I've had a chance to spend some time with them when I was in the [16:12] private sector, are the core of American combat power. They're the machinists running high-tech [16:17] CNC machines, cutting raw blocks of metal into incredibly precise parts. They're the [16:23] essential workers in the attack industry, and they're the ones who can bring power to America. [16:24] assembly workers painstakingly taking a kit of parts and turning that into a complex guidance [16:29] system or precision munition or a rocket motor or building a jet or submarine, or that there [16:36] are quality assurance technicians who ensure that when a warfighter pulls a trigger, the weapon [16:43] works every time. This can be and is tough and gritty work. It's not a quiet office and a desk [16:51] with paper, and there's nothing wrong with that, but this is exactly the way this group of Americans [16:57] likes it. I know this. I've seen it myself, and I remain deeply honored by that gift. [17:02] It's often loud and dangerous work demanding that requires absolute focus for hours at a time with [17:09] deep commitment to get it right every single time. It's hands-on work where one uncaught mistake or [17:17] deviation can put an American's life at risk. A single misplacement, [17:21] misplaced wire, a microscopic flaw in a weld, incorrectly calibrated sensor could mean the [17:27] difference between mission success or mission failure. The difference is measured in the lives [17:33] of our sons and daughters who we put out around the field and on the field of battle. [17:39] We rely on and trust in these great Americans, and it's not just their manufacturing skill, it's [17:44] their innovative minds and their entrepreneurial spirit. From those who build exquisite [17:51] capabilities and highly innovative technologies, we have a life of revolution. We are the people who [17:51] make the difference. We're their mission. We're the people who make the difference. We're the people [17:51] down to the mom-and-pop machine shops all over this great country. [17:56] They live at the beginning of and the core of America's combat capability, [18:02] constantly adapting, constantly improving, constantly learning. [18:06] And there are examples of this throughout history and current days. [18:11] To include building things like the F-117 stealth fighter, the B-2 stealth bomber, [18:17] making our combat capability undetectable over the enemy, [18:21] to today's B-21 and F-47. [18:25] It's work like in the shipyards of the East Coast and Northeast side of the United States [18:30] that go out and build America's nuclear submarines [18:32] that allow us to patrol around the world at the time and place of our choosing. [18:39] These innovators, these workers, these incredible Americans [18:42] don't get the same glory as a fighter pilot returning to a carrier deck at night [18:46] or an artilleryman sending rounds downrange. [18:50] And yet they show up. [18:51] Every single day. [18:53] And without them, we could not do the work that we are tasked to do. [18:57] 24-7, they build the tools that we need to do our business. [19:02] The skill, the commitment, the patriotism, the dedication [19:06] poured into every piece of combat capability and hardware [19:11] is seen and felt out at the edge of the force. [19:15] As the Secretary talked about those young bomb builders out in the desert [19:20] that he had the chance to see. [19:21] You can see it, you can feel it, and it's real. [19:26] And we're deeply grateful. [19:27] So to the American workforce out there, [19:30] both inside our defense industrial base and in our national industrial base, [19:35] thank you on behalf of the Joint Force. [19:37] We carry the weapons that you build. [19:40] We rely on the systems that you create. [19:42] And the distance from that factory floor and that assembly line [19:46] to the front line is incredibly short. [19:50] Thank you. Keep it up. [19:51] And to our adversaries out there, [19:53] I remind you to beware of the American workforce. [19:57] We continue to press forward in our military objectives. [20:00] The Secretary and I remain deeply humbled by the spirit, tenacity, commitment, and grit [20:06] of our 2.8 million member strong Joint Force. [20:10] I want to, as always, thank the force and their families. [20:13] And as always, remember our fallen. [20:16] We carry with them and their names every day. [20:18] Sir, I'll turn it back over to you. [20:20] Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. [20:21] Two things. [20:22] He didn't note it, but in memory of Colonel Bud Anderson, [20:25] the chairman himself flew his F-16 to honor him recently. [20:29] And thank you for highlighting the defense industrial base, [20:31] the arsenal of freedom. [20:32] It's worth noting no one has rebuilt that defense industrial base faster [20:35] and with more purpose than President Trump in his first term. [20:38] And now we're rebuilding the arsenal of freedom. [20:41] Our defense industrial base is more vibrant today [20:44] than it's been since World War II and growing rapidly. [20:47] Contrast that with Iran, whose defense industrial base is, [20:51] nearly completely destroyed, their ability to reconstitute the weapons of war they're using now [20:57] that they're hiding in underground facilities and attriting over time, [21:00] their ability to rebuild that is negligible. [21:04] And I think that contrast is an enduring legacy of this as well. [21:07] Right here. [21:07] We've had some signaling that the U.S. will retake control of the Strait of Hormuz. [21:15] At that point, what military posture will be imposed to guarantee safe passage for our allies, [21:21] deter our enemies? [21:22] And demonstrate U.S. dominance in the region? [21:26] And also, can you speak to how much America's adversaries, Russia, China, [21:31] and North Korea, how much they're supporting Iran's war machine at this point with arms [21:36] and intelligence and what we are militarily doing to punish the enemy coalition? [21:42] Appreciate both questions. [21:44] On the Strait of Hormuz, there are many more vessels flowing [21:47] through today than there were, as the President has arranged. [21:50] The President's been clear. [21:51] To Iran, open it for business, or we have options, and we certainly do. [21:55] And when you look at what the Chairman laid out with the Navy, with the Navy industrial base, [21:58] with coastal cruise missiles, with UAVs, with countermine capabilities, [22:03] we've been focused from the beginning on attriting and defeating those capabilities [22:06] and limiting their options. [22:08] There's lots we're doing as well, some of which is known, [22:11] some of which is not known, to set the conditions. [22:14] And I think the President was clear this morning in his truth that there are countries [22:18] around the world who ought to be prepared to step up. [22:23] On this critical waterway as well. [22:24] It's not just the United States Navy. [22:27] Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared [22:31] to do things like that as well. [22:32] So he's pointing out, this is an international waterway that we use less than most. [22:36] In fact, dramatically less than most. [22:38] So the world ought to pay attention to be prepared to stand up. [22:40] President Trump's been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world [22:43] to address this threat of Iran. [22:45] It's not just our problem set going forward, even though we have done the lion's share [22:50] of preparation to ensure that that Strait will be open, which is an outcome. [22:54] The President's been very clear on. [22:56] As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they're doing. [22:59] What they are or are not doing. [23:00] We don't have to air publicly what all of that is. [23:04] But where necessary, we're addressing it, we're mitigating it, or we're confronting [23:08] it head on. [23:09] I don't know if you have anything you want to add. [23:10] No, sir. [23:11] I think you covered it. [23:13] Not right here. [23:14] Do you have a timeline for operability in the Strait? [23:15] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [23:16] David Zier, Real America's Voice. [23:19] And I witnessed that enthusiasm on the lines in our submarine builders and ironworks. [23:24] It's unbelievable. [23:24] But I just wanted to ask you, what's the status of the delivery of any hardened bunkers [23:31] for additional protection for our troops? [23:34] And without getting too specific, what kind of measures are we taking to protect some [23:38] of the larger, more strategic aircraft like the Sentry and other? [23:42] Well, it's a great question. [23:44] I'll say what I witnessed where I went was a completely locked-in discipline of bunker [23:52] use and bunker improvement. [23:55] So from the beginning, as we stated very clearly, the first thing we did was set up [23:59] a defense and make sure our defensive capabilities were maxed out before any of this even started. [24:04] That included fortifications as much as possible. [24:07] But it also included disbursement. [24:09] If all of our people are in one place, you could imagine why that's a big problem. [24:13] So dispersing is part of that defeat. [24:16] Alongside that, disbursement is more and more bunkers. [24:19] And I can tell you, talking to base commanders, talking to our allies in Israel, talking to [24:23] others, rapidly fielding that. [24:24] And then improving those positions is a theater of priority, no doubt, as are the air defenses [24:30] and the layered air defenses. [24:31] It's not just Patriots and THAADs. [24:33] It's fighters and defensive caps. [24:35] It's other kinetic defeat systems. [24:37] It's electronic warfare. [24:38] So the defense of our troops and our assets is maxed. [24:42] I will say on some of those other assets you talked about, air wings, airframes, there's [24:48] some things adversaries are doing to provide info and intel that they shouldn't. [24:52] We're aware of it. [24:53] And ultimately, we move forward. [24:54] We move things around and don't – one of the biggest principles you learn in the military [24:59] is to not set patterns, predictable patterns. [25:03] And so we're – commanders are working hard to adjust in real time with those systems [25:07] and make sure they're in the right places and not easily targetable. [25:09] Jillian. [25:11] Thanks, Mr. Secretary. [25:12] The U.S. and Iran appear right now publicly to disagree about whether there are these [25:17] negotiations ongoing. [25:20] What impact does that have on military strategy? [25:22] Does it have any bearing at all? [25:25] And General, the President wrote yesterday that the U.S. might destroy Iran's electricity [25:33] generating plants and oil wells. [25:35] Those are his words before ending this operation. [25:38] Is there a way to do either of those things without like seriously jeopardizing or seriously [25:45] harming civilians? [25:48] So on the talks, I can tell you, having been with Steve and Jared and the Vice President [25:54] and Marco and many others yesterday, they are very real. [25:56] They are honest. [25:57] They are ongoing. [25:58] They are active. [26:00] And I think gaining strength. [26:02] And we appreciate that. [26:03] As I said in my remarks, we would much prefer to get a deal. [26:06] If Iran was willing to relinquish material they have and ambitions they have, open this [26:11] – great. [26:12] That's the goal. [26:13] We don't want to have to do more militarily than we have to. [26:17] But I didn't mean it flippantly when I said in the meantime we'll negotiate with bombs. [26:21] Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime [26:25] in charge, is in a better place. [26:27] It's in a better place if they make that deal. [26:29] And so we'll continue. [26:30] We're working hand in hand. [26:31] But the primary effort is a deal. [26:33] We want that deal to be accomplished if at all possible. [26:36] If not, then we're prepared to continue. [26:38] What happened to – [26:40] Go ahead. [26:41] Mr. Chairman. [26:42] Yeah. [26:43] Madam. [26:44] Thanks for the question. [26:45] We're always thinking about those considerations and develop options to be able to mitigate [26:50] those risks pursuant to the normal practices that we do in the military. [26:54] So – [26:55] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [26:56] I know you slightly addressed this. [26:58] I know you already. [26:59] But just on the Strait of Hormuz, is opening the strait an essential objective to Operation [27:03] Epic Fury, or is that the job of those other countries? [27:07] And then secondly, without asking you to comment on things that you can't talk about, what [27:12] is your message to Americans who love the president and strongly believe in him but [27:16] are very worried about this notion of boots on the ground? [27:19] Well, first, on the Strait of Hormuz, our core objectives from this podium, from day [27:26] one, from me, from the chairman, from the president, from the vice president, from the [27:28] president, from the vice president, from the vice president, from the vice president, from [27:29] the vice president, from the vice president, from Secretary Rubio and others, have been [27:32] clear. [27:33] Defense missile production and missile programs, so their entire missile program, defense industrial [27:39] base and production ability to build, and Navy and power projection. [27:43] So those – and then, of course, wrapping it all is Iran's never going to have a nuclear [27:47] weapon. [27:48] So those have been very clear. [27:49] Defeating the Navy is a core part of ensuring they can't project that kind of power. [27:52] But ultimately, I think the president's truth this morning lays that out very well, [27:57] that this Strait of Hormuz issue, which we've set the conditions. [27:59] For success, and we will make sure Iran knows that very clearly, is not just a United States [28:05] of America problem set. [28:08] We've been willing to lead. [28:09] President Trump's led the entire time. [28:11] But it's not just us. [28:12] So ultimately, I think other countries should pay attention when the president speaks. [28:16] He's proven that when he speaks, he means something. [28:18] And he's pointing out, you know, you might want to start learning how to fight for yourself. [28:24] It's something some of us have been saying for quite some time. [28:27] You can't just have flags. [28:28] You have to have formations. [28:29] You can't just have a few ships. [28:31] You have enough to affect change. [28:32] Those things matter in a dangerous world with ascended adversaries. [28:36] That's why the president, that's why the chairman's talking about our industrial base. [28:39] That's why we're launching the Arsenal of Freedom tour to revive our defense industrial [28:43] base. [28:44] President Trump doing it in a way that nobody else has. [28:46] As far as President Trump and boots on the ground, I don't understand why the base, which [28:52] they have already, they understand wouldn't have faith in his ability to execute on this. [28:57] Look at his track record of pursuing peace. [28:59] Peace through strength. [29:01] America first outcomes. [29:03] What he's simply saying, and it's exactly true, and I've said from this podium too, [29:07] we're not going to foreclose any option. [29:09] You can't fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do [29:13] or what you are not willing to do to include boots on the ground. [29:17] Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with [29:22] boots on the ground. [29:23] And guess what? [29:24] There are. [29:25] So if we needed to, we could execute those options on behalf of the president of the United States. [29:29] And this department or maybe we don't have to use them at all. [29:33] Maybe negotiations work or maybe there's a different approach. [29:36] The point is to be unpredictable in that. [29:38] Certainly not let anybody know what you're willing to do or not do. [29:41] But if anybody has internalized the lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan as the first one, [29:46] President Trump, to call them out for what they are, he's not going to repeat those lessons. [29:50] And I think I've been very clear about that from the podium. [29:52] Thank you, Secretary. [29:53] I have a question for you and then a question for General Cain. [29:58] You said we're a month into. [29:59] The Operation Epic Fury. [30:01] How long until the objectives are achieved? [30:03] And is there a scenario where a deal is struck before the objectives have been achieved? [30:08] And then for General Cain, there's been lots of media coverage that suggested a ground [30:13] invasion is imminent. [30:15] What other purposes might the soldiers and the Marines who have been deployed over to [30:20] the Middle East serve in this conflict? [30:23] Well, just like the previous question, sort of military 101. [30:29] Don't tell your enemy what you're willing to do or not do. [30:31] And don't tell your enemy when you're willing to stop, especially an enemy that likes to [30:35] hide in bunkers and try to hoard their missiles and hope he'll wait you out. [30:39] So that's not a question I'm going to answer or the president has said definitively. [30:44] We have our own goals and guidance and things were military objectives that we're moving [30:48] toward and things that we look at. [30:50] And as he's articulated, you know, he said four to six weeks, six to eight weeks, three. [30:55] It could be any particular number, but we would never reveal precisely what it is because [31:00] our goal is to finish those objectives. [31:01] And we're well on our way. [31:04] And the chairman and I look at this every single day. [31:06] It will be the president's determination and the president's determination alone when those [31:11] objectives are complete and when it serves the interest of the American people to cut [31:15] that deal, to make sure that Iran doesn't have a nuclear capability and ultimately that [31:21] our objectives or our interests are advanced. [31:23] I don't know if you want to add anything. [31:25] No, just to answer your question, Reagan, you know, the range of military options that [31:30] those forces can offer. [31:31] Our extensive, not just limited to what you mentioned in terms of forces on the ground. [31:37] And I wouldn't want to take away the president's decision space. [31:41] But there are a multitude of things, not the least of which is Iran should note that they're [31:46] out there and that they are a pressure point. [31:50] And so they should carefully consider, I think, at the diplomatic level, not my job as a chairman, [31:56] but at the diplomatic level to consider what's in front of them. [32:00] Jerry. [32:01] Mr. Secretary, the U.S. government, I see, says for many years that Iran is protecting [32:10] al-Qaeda senior leaders, including the current Amir Saif al-Adil. [32:16] Does the U.S. assess that he's still in Iran as he fled to Afghanistan? [32:21] Is he on a target list? [32:24] And Mr. Chairman, based on CENTCOM figures and open source Iranian daily reports, what's [32:29] your take on that? [32:30] MR. [32:31] Well, you know, the Iranian daily missile barrages and drone launches have indeed [32:35] dropped dramatically since the start of the war, but they're not at zero. [32:40] And they seem to have maintained some level of low but stable numbers. [32:47] Perhaps they've dropped a little bit more in recent days. [32:49] How do we get that closer to zero? [32:54] And what impact is Iran's degraded but still very real capability impacting current and [33:00] future operations? [33:01] MR. [33:02] So I won't speak to a particular target. [33:04] I'll just say that al-Qaeda remains our enemy, obviously. [33:08] And there are a lot of people on our target list in Iran. [33:12] And if they were to be harboring al-Qaeda, they would certainly fit that list. [33:14] MR. [33:16] Just quickly, you know, the mobile targets that they have that we continue to [33:20] service, as the Secretary talked about, the 200 hits that were done last night, that's [33:25] one component of continuing to lower that. [33:28] The second and more long-term impact that we're seeing is that the U.S. military is [33:31] not going to be able to keep up with what we're having, is the strikes against their [33:33] defense industrial base at scale, which will not allow them to reload after that. [33:39] So we do continue to see a trend down. [33:41] They are still shooting, and we do continue to exert significant pressure against both [33:46] sides of that system. [33:47] MR. [33:48] Mr. Secretary, thank you for your question. [33:49] Do you still believe – you'd said previously that the Iranian leadership would surrender. [33:55] Do you still believe that? [33:57] And is the United States still committed to NATO's collective defense and to Chairman [34:01] King? [34:02] Could you give us a sense of your thinking about the legality of striking desalinization [34:07] plans if the President were to order that? [34:10] SECRETARY POMPEO I would just say that any mission that ends [34:13] on our terms – call it a surrender, call it a defeat, call it what you want – we [34:17] remain committed to a conflict that ends on our terms and the President's terms. [34:22] There's no doubt about that. [34:24] And as far as NATO is concerned, that's a decision that will be left to the President. [34:26] But I'll just say a lot has been laid bare, a lot has been shown to the world about what [34:33] our allies would be. [34:34] And I think that's what we're willing to do for the United States of America when [34:36] we undertake an effort of this scope on behalf of the free world. [34:40] These are missiles that don't even range the United States of America. [34:43] They range allies and others. [34:46] And yet when we ask for additional assistance or simple access basing and overflight, we [34:52] get questions or roadblocks or hesitations. [34:55] And the President is pointing out you don't have much of an alliance if you have countries [35:00] that are not willing to stand with you when you need them. [35:02] He's simply pointing that out. [35:04] And ultimately it will be his decision what that looks like after this is completed. [35:07] I'll just – I won't talk about any particular target. [35:10] This really builds on Jillian's question, too, that I don't think I completely answered. [35:14] But, you know, the joint force is the most professional force in the world, and we have [35:18] numerous processes and systems to carefully consider the whole range of considerations [35:24] from civilian risk to legal considerations with any target. [35:28] And as targets come before us, we run them through the same process that we always do [35:33] and always strive for. [35:34] And we strike lawful targets in accordance with the normal procedures that we use. [35:39] Mr. Chairman, can you agree with no code or no mercy for enemy combatants, as Vice [35:44] Secretary said? [35:45] Go ahead. [35:46] Go ahead. [35:47] For me? [35:48] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [35:49] Thank you, sir. [35:50] No. [35:51] Thank you, Mr. Secretary. [35:52] Thank you. [35:53] I appreciate it. [35:54] On Sunday, President Trump said that Iran's first regime was all destroyed and the second [35:55] one is mostly dead. [35:56] The third regime that we're on right now has been much more reasonable in negotiations. [35:59] Do you agree with that assessment and why? [36:01] I would defer to the negotiating team there. [36:03] They're the ones talking to them. [36:05] Back and forth on terms, which is a productive development. [36:09] We stand right there next to our negotiating team, always willing and prepared to put them [36:14] in an even better position. [36:16] Thank you very much. [36:17] I appreciate it. [36:18] Thank you. [36:32] Thank you. [36:33] C-SPAN, official media partner of America 250, commemorating 250 years of American [36:37] democracy. [36:39] America 250 is traveling the country to honor the voices that define our nation, stories [36:43] of identity, service, and community. [36:46] Here's one of them. [36:55] This is the program cover in 1912, when Fundmate Park first opened up.