Hegseth tells 60 Minutes public won't be told if troops enter Iran
Seventh U.S. soldier died the day Hegseth said Iran was "toast"
Seventh U.S. soldier died the day Hegseth said Iran was "toast"
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sat for an interview with CBS News correspondent Major Garrett on 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, March 8, 2026, ten days into Operation Epic Fury. Garrett asked whether U.S. forces were on the ground in Iran. Hegseth confirmed they were not, then added with a smirk: "But we reserve the right. We would be completely unwise if we did not reserve the right to take any particular option, whether it included boots on the ground or no boots on the ground."
He was then asked directly whether he would tell the public if ground troops were deployed. "Uh, I wouldn't tell you that if we did," he said. He elaborated: "President Trump knows — I know — you don't tell the enemy, you don't tell the press, you don't tell anybody what your limits would be on an operation. We're willing to go as far as we need to in order to be successful." CBS News PBS NewsHour
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
The constitutional division of war-making power between Congress and the President.
The President's role as the highest-ranking military officer, making the President a civilian authority over the armed forces.
The constitutional principle that elected civilians, not military officers, hold supreme authority over the armed forces.
The Constitution divides authority over military force between Congress (which declares war and funds troops) and the president (who commands forces as commander in chief).
Presidents use international agreements like executive agreements as alternatives to treaties to commit the U.S. to courses of action without Senate ratification.
The Senate''s power to approve or reject presidential appointments and treaties.
How constitutional powers shift between Congress and the President during wartime and peacetime.
A 1973 statute requiring the President to notify Congress of troop deployments and limiting combat operations to 60 days without congressional authorization.
Congressional and executive mechanisms to monitor and legally control intelligence agency operations.