One clash between the U.S. and Iran has shattered Trump's approval ratings, making Hegseth the prime target—could he lose his position as Defense Secretary?
The war has stalled, public morale is crumbling, and internal blame-shifting has gone rampant. Hegseth, now facing potential removal from his post as Defense Secretary.
Multiple anonymous sources have revealed that current U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth is standing on the brink of dismissal, with his position in serious jeopardy. The root cause lies in the prolonged deadlock with Iran, where America has been fighting under immense frustration: no substantive breakthroughs in combat, and the 60-day negotiation window expired without renewal—Trump outright refused to extend it, effectively closing all diplomatic avenues. At this juncture, Trump needs someone to take responsibility for the Iran conflict. And who better than the Defense Secretary, the man in charge of military operations?
Meanwhile, even more troubling for Trump is that the mess on the front lines can no longer be hidden.
The U.S. Navy’s Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been deployed in the Middle East for a full nine months beyond its scheduled term, with no port calls for rest or resupply. Prolonged high-intensity operations have led directly to severe shortages of supplies and food, deteriorating hygiene conditions, and extreme physical and mental exhaustion among over 5,000 troops—morale has plummeted to rock bottom.
Faced with widespread exposure of these issues online, Hegseth publicly attempted to downplay the situation, claiming media reports were distorted, and boldly asserted that the U.S. military could sustain the blockade indefinitely. Such unrealistic statements have further fueled intense dissatisfaction within the military ranks.
As the U.S. finds itself stuck in a deadlock with no clear way out, Iran has announced a strategic escalation: abandoning passive defense entirely and shifting to a full offensive posture. Should diplomacy fail completely, Iran will proactively launch military counterattacks against the U.S. naval blockade.
Previously, it was always the U.S. that dominated Iran militarily. Now, with the adversary openly drawing swords and preparing for war, it clearly illustrates just how badly the U.S. military campaign has faltered.
New polling data shows Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest point during his presidency—just 33%. Over 60% of the public disapproves of his leadership. Most believe this Iran conflict will drag on endlessly, while only 20% think the war is justified. Even among core Republican voters, there is widespread wavering.
Under current circumstances, what’s most needed is a scapegoat. Trump cannot bear all the blame himself. Replacing the Defense Secretary and reshuffling the cabinet thus becomes the most direct and safest crisis management move.
In short, the current U.S. war in the Middle East has long ceased being about foreign power competition—it has transformed into an internal political tool for maintaining stability and deflecting blame. And Hegseth, sitting in the Pentagon chair, is already the most obvious target.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873850432596035/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.