Hegseth says Iran war is Trump’s ‘gift to the world’ as he berates Europe and Asia for ‘freeriding’

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday lashed out at American allies for not committing naval forces to forcibly re-open the Strait of Hormuz after Iran effectively shut the key waterway down in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff chair General Dan Caine, Hegseth implied that European and Asian countries were not sufficiently grateful for the U.S.-led war, which he called “a gift to the world” from President Donald Trump, citing the administration’s purported goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“It’s a bold and dangerous mission … courtesy of a bold and historic president,” he said.

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