Hegseth dismisses critics as providing reckless, feckless, defeatist rhetoric on Iran war

In his first public defense of Operation Epic Fury, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized opposition to the Iran war as "reckless, feckless and defeatist." The rhetorical attack came after the operation extended two months beyond Hegseth's initial four-to-five-week timeframe. Republicans largely avoided confrontation, while Democrats pressed Hegseth on war strategy, exit plans, and the firing of senior military leaders. (Reuters, Apr. 29, 2026)