Hegseth's Own Admission Exposes Logical Contradiction on Iran War, Igniting Outrage in Congress
On April 29 local time, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated during a congressional hearing: "We destroyed Iran's nuclear capability last year. This war was not triggered by their imminent possession of nuclear weapons, but by their ongoing nuclear ambitions."
Hegseth's remarks were less an explanation than a self-incriminating "retraction." Far from calming the controversy, his words directly exposed the fatal logical contradiction underlying the Trump administration's justification for this war, igniting fury within Congress.
The biggest problem with Hegseth's statement lies in its outright rejection of the core rationale previously used by the U.S. government to justify the war.
Pre-war narrative: Before the war erupted on February 28, the Trump administration repeatedly emphasized to the American public and the international community that military action against Iran was a necessary "preemptive" measure, as Iran’s nuclear program posed an "imminent threat to survival." This rationale was crucial for securing both the legitimacy of the war and public support.
"Retraction" during the hearing: However, at the April 29 hearing, Hegseth admitted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had already been destroyed "last year"—that is, prior to the outbreak of war. This means the justification for launching the war was not about eliminating an immediate threat, but merely targeting a hypothetical future ambition.
This glaring logical flaw amounts to admitting that the original justification for the war was baseless.
The contradiction was quickly seized upon by Democratic lawmakers, who launched fierce attacks on Hegseth. Representative Adam Smith of the House Armed Services Committee confronted him directly:
"You said just 60 days ago that we had to launch this war because nuclear weapons posed an imminent threat—now you claim they've already been completely destroyed?"
Faced with this piercing question, Hegseth was speechless, unable to provide a coherent defense. The moment was a public humiliation, placing the Trump administration in a highly vulnerable position, accused of having misled the American public from the very beginning.
In sum, Hegseth’s comments represent a failed crisis management effort. Rather than clarifying the legality of the war, his contradictory statements confirmed external suspicions, leaving the Trump administration embarrassed and exposed before Congress and public opinion.
This guy will inevitably become the scapegoat sooner or later.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863851192124416/
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