WASHINGTON — In a candid moment, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared a poignant conversation with his 13-year-old son, emphasizing that U.S. service members have sacrificed their lives to prevent future generations from facing the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
As he prepared for a Thursday press conference addressing the ongoing conflict in Iran following the tragic loss of 13 service members, Hegseth reflected on the discussion with his son.
“Last night, my 13-year-old son came into my office while I was working on these remarks,” Hegseth recounted on Thursday. “He was curious about the war and the families I had met at Dover.”
He continued, “I told him, ‘They died for you, son, to ensure that your generation doesn’t have to contend with a nuclear Iran.'”
Hegseth affirmed, “That’s the reality, and they truly did. To the families urging us to ‘finish this,’ we are committed to doing so.”
Hegseth, a father of seven, has children from three marriages, including four with his current wife, Jennifer.
Hegseth had joined President Trump at Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday to pay final respects to the six airmen who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
That refueling craft went down in friendly airspace, and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with US Central Command ruling out friendly fire or a hostile attack.
“What I heard, through tears, through hugs, through strength, and unbreakable resolve, was the same. From family after family,” the Pentagon honcho said of his conversations at the dignified transfer.
“They said, ‘Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.’”
Hegseth vowed to “honor their sacrifice” and “finish this.”
A veteran of the Second Gulf War as well as the Afghanistan War, Hegseth took note of how Iran killed American soldiers by sending specific technology to Iraq.
“Iran, whether it’s [in] Iraq, whether it’s Afghanistan, whether it’s around the world, has been targeting Americans,” he stressed. “And what President Trump would not tolerate is a regime of that nature being closer and closer to nuclear capabilities.”
