Pete Hegseth Proclaims 'We Didn't Start This War, But We Will Finish It' And Reveals Shocking Nuclear Threat To America

Inquisitr  

"With the world watching closely, the Donald Trump administration is signaling that it believes decisive action now may prevent a far more dangerous confrontation later."

"War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers stark warning about Iran’s underground nuclear ambitions while standing firmly behind Trump’s decisive military action. He delivered a forceful and unflinching message to the nation this week, declaring that the United States “didn’t start this war, but we will finish it” as he revealed what he described as a deeply troubling nuclear threat developing under the Iranian regime.

"Pete Hegseth spoke as the Pentagon confirmed that a fourth U.S. service member had died following Iranian strikes on an American base in Kuwait, a sobering development that underscored the gravity of the moment.

“ 'War is hell and it always will be,” Secretary Pete Hegseth said, acknowledging the painful cost as American troops continue operating in a volatile region. His remarks came as officials confirmed the additional casualty, marking another tragic loss in the escalating confrontation.

"Speaking during a Pentagon briefing following U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, Pete Hegseth made clear that the military action authorized by President Donald Trump was not the beginning of hostilities, but rather a response to years of aggression and escalating danger.

"The War Secretary laid out what he described as mounting intelligence showing Iran had continued advancing elements of its nuclear capabilities, including infrastructure buried deep beneath mountainous terrain. Pete Hegseth stressed that such secretive construction is inconsistent with peaceful nuclear energy.

“ 'Peaceful nuclear programs are not hidden under mountains,” Donald Trump’s War Secretary said, pointing to hardened underground facilities that U.S. officials believe were designed to shield critical components from airstrikes." . . .

You Don’t Hate Media Enough: NYT, WaPo Remember Ayatollah As ‘Cleric’ With ‘Easy Smile’

 Brianna Lyman 

"You don’t have to hate the media to notice the absurdity of these obituaries, but if you didn’t hate them before, you probably do now." 

"If you thought The Washington Post’s infamous decision to describe ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an “austere religious scholar” was a once in a lifetime lapse in editorial judgement, you were mistaken. With the death of Iran’s brutal dictatorial supreme leader, both The New York Times and The Post are back to remind you that legacy media still has no shame.

"Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s longtime supreme leader responsible for executions, censorship, repression, and sponsoring terrorist groups worldwide, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday. His death comes weeks after his regime oversaw the execution of tens of thousands of Iranians who took to the streets to protest his very rule.

"But rather than recount the misery and destruction of his reign, the propaganda press has set out to humanize him. In a Washington Post obituary by William Branigin, readers are introduced to the Ayatollah not as the brutal dictator he was, but simply as “Iran’s supreme leader,” who “is dead at 86.” . . .

Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics.

Iranian woman slams Muslim Mayor of NYC and the useful idiot Democrats for their disgusting hypocrisy   "Elica Le Bon says the Democrat mask is off! “It’s the first time these people have spoken up on Iran, the Mayor of NYC, Congress people, they spoke up not to defend the Iranian people, but to defend the Islamic terrorists who are massacring them.'”

‘Disgrace of a human’: Whoopi Goldberg ‘minimizes’ the struggles of Iranian women    “Let me be clear, the Iranian regime will hang you from a crane in the public square for crimes like blasphemy, witchcraft, homosexuality and of course, if you dare show any dissent, if you challenge the brutal regime. Whoopi thinks that's pretty much how black folk are treated in America,” Ms Panahi said.

“You absolute disgrace of a human being, Whoopi Goldberg, to show absolutely no regard for the Iranian women who risk their lives to challenge the Islamist government, to minimize their struggle and compare it to your fever dreams about oppression in America in 2025.”

Savannah Guthrie lays flowers outside missing mother Nancy's home and embraces sister and brother-in-law

  Daily Mail Online  

"Savannah also plans to return home to New York City soon, the Daily Mail previously revealed. "The mother of two young children, who is married to former Democratic political adviser Michael Feldman, has decided she must get her other life back on track as the search for her mother continues." 

"Savannah Guthrie was seen placing flowers outside her missing mother Nancy's home as the search for her marks a month. 

"The Today show host looked visibly heartbroken as she united with her older sister Annie and her brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni on Monday, a video obtained by NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin showed. 

"The three of them were seen locked arm in arm, laying flowers down as Annie wept and held onto her husband and sister for support. 

"Savannah leaned on her family members as they joined for a group hug in front of the many flowers and messages left for their missing 84-year-old mother. 

"The emotional moment comes a month after Nancy was abducted from her home on the morning of February 1, after she failed to show up for her church service. 

"Nancy was last seen on January 31, after being dropped off by Cioni, following a dinner and game night at Annie's home. 

"The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI have been on the case ever since, but the few leads they have received have been fruitless, as Nancy's whereabouts still remain unknown. 

"The FBI recently announced that the agency would be scaling back its search for Nancy, with agents moving to a new command post more than 100 miles away from Phoenix. 

"Some agents will also stay behind in Tucson, sources with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News. Agents in Phoenix, meanwhile, will work the case from there". . . . More...

Kuwait 'mistakenly' shot down three $31M US fighter jets . . .

Cheering on Gen Z hangouts begins in three...two...

 . . . "all crew safely ejected: military  

"With “friends” like this, who needs enemies. Thankfully the pilots all were able to eject safefully(sp), but Kuwait needs to reimburse the U.S. for their “mistake” either with cash or oil. We’ve saved their derrières in the past when they were invaded at no charge, but this time they need to pay up." Reader comment.

"Three US F-15s involved in the attack on Iran were shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a case of friendly fire, the American military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement early Monday.

"All six crew members on board the F-15E Strike Eagles were able to eject safely and are in stable condition.

"“Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” Tampa, Fla.-based CENTCOM went on.

"The jet crashes, captured in dramatic video footage, were reported shortly after an apparent Iranian missile and drone barrage struck the US Embassy compound in Kuwait City — which had earlier issued a blunt warning to Americans, telling them to remain indoors, take cover, and “Do not come to the Embassy.”

"Fire and smoke were seen rising from inside the compound, though there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

"Explosions could be heard as one of the planes fell from the sky in flames, said witness Ahmed al-Asar, who rushed to the scene with about a dozen others as an airman parachuted to the ground.

"Al-Asar initially thought the pilot was Iranian, but recognized he was American before rescuers whisked him away." . . .  More...

Iranians flood social media with videos of them 'doing the Trump dance' to thank president for eliminating Khamenei

 Daily Mail Online

Lefties Losing It: Iranians celebrate imminent liberation as Lefties fume

"Iranians have taken to social media to share videos of them doing the famous 'Trump dance' after a joint US-Israel military operation killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday.

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that the US had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

'Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,' the president wrote on Truth Social.

Khamenei, the chief Islamic cleric and ruler of Iran for over 36 years since 1989, has long been an adversary of the US for decades throughout multiple presidential administrations.

His rule saw the increased Islamification of Iran and the growth of its proxy forces in Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and beyond. 

His strong religious views long unsettled the Middle East and placed Iran opposite its more western-embracing neighbors like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.  

The president also used his announcement to call on Iranian citizens to stand up to the Islamic regime, saying it is 'the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.'

Now, Iranians celebrating all over the world are publicly thanking the US president by copying his signature dance set to the song 'YMCA' performed at many of his rallies." . . .

. . . "In London, members of the Persian community took to North Finchley on Saturday night, with footage showing residents of the London borough blaring music from their cars and cheering, while some were seen handing out roses.

Local resident Jessica came out of her house to find a scene of literally thousands descending on Ballards Lane.

She told The Daily Mail: 'It's absolute mayhem, it's pandemonium. It's a scene of absolute jubilation." . . .

More...

Insanities of the Left

Why the left’s serial insanities keep becoming the law of the land - Victor Davis Hanson

"In sum, just five years ago, when Joe Biden and his masters took control of the government, the orthodoxy was that we were to restructure the entire economy along failed European lines in order to save the planet."

More scary than funny

. . . "Yesterday’s radical new policy becomes today’s wishy-washy cop-out, as tomorrow’s once-unthinkable radical idea becomes commonplace and institutionalized.

"So it was that a few years ago, the public was told of a new and huge victimized group in the shadows, suffering from “gender dysphoria” — an age-old malady known to the ancients and, according to modern researchers before the millennium, affecting about one in 10,000 to 30,000 people.

"No matter — almost overnight, transgenderism joined the gay and lesbian community to become the new LGBT oppressed.

"Drag shows, once confined to enclaves in San Francisco or New York, were suddenly mainstreamed into military bases, children’s libraries and cruise ships.

"On some campuses, 30% of students polled said that they might consider “transitioning.”

"Abruptly, professors and students began reading emails appearing from their finger-in-the-wind administrators with strange new runes under their titles and names, identifying their “preferred pronouns” — sometimes the standard “she/her/hers” or “he/him/his,” and sometimes the unfathomable, such as “Ze/hir/hirs” or the plural “they/them.” . . .

The Growing Threat of Political Violence From the Left - Newsweek

"We're witnessing the alarming rise of what the NCRI calls an 'assassination culture,'" said Max Horder of the NCRI, in an interview with Newsweek. "Violence targeting figures like Donald Trump or Elon Musk has gone beyond normalization—it's being sanctified as resistance by parts of the political left."

Who Really Are the Lawless and the Dictatorial? - Victor Davis Hanson  " . . .In Trump’s first 120 days, I don’t recall FBI Director Kash Patel leaking confidential presidential conversations to the New York Times, or ordering the FBI to collect dirt on Democratic candidates, or hiring a fraudulent ex-British spy to compile a lurid dossier on AOC or Bernie Sanders. Has Patel lied four times to federal investigators following the prompt of Andrew McCabe?

"Nor has Patel ordered his agents to work with Facebook and Twitter to suppress embarrassing press coverage about the Trump family.

"The Trump Secret Service is not a private retrieval service that hunts down his children’s missing, lurid diaries or incriminating lost laptops or illegally acquired lost handguns.

"Is there now a White House-conservative media cabal covering up a Trump cancer diagnosis or demonstrable senility?

"So far, the Trump CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, have not repeatedly lied under oath to Congress, following the precedents of the Obama-era CIA Director John Brennan and DNI James Clapper.

"So please, spare us the sanctimonious lectures on “tyranny” and “dictatorship” from the very ideologues who have done and are doing more to wreck the Constitution and destroy the confidence of the American people in the rule of law than any generation in modern memory."

Newsom’s ‘play dumb’ routine is not new — in fact, it has a clinical name

 The Hill

 "A genuine ally does not walk into your community and lead with what they assume you have failed at. They speak to your aspirations, your excellence, and your future"... 

"When California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took the stage before a predominantly Black audience in Georgia recently, something revealing happened. He leaned into the microphone and offered his credentials for relatability: a 960 SAT score, a confession that he can’t read well, and a childhood sustained by frozen lasagna and mac and cheese.

"Newsom’s intention was for the crowd to feel seen. But that he actually exposed was a pattern that has been hiding in plain sight for thirty years — a pattern so well-documented that researchers at Yale and Princeton have given it a clinical name.

"In 2019, social psychologists Cydney Dupree of Yale and Susan Fiske of Princeton published a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology with a striking conclusion: White liberals systematically present themselves as less competent when speaking to Black audiences than when speaking to white ones.

"They called it “competence downshift.”

"Analyzing 25 years of presidential campaign speeches — 74 speeches delivered to mostly white or mostly minority audiences — they found that Democratic candidates consistently used fewer words associated with intelligence, ability, and status when addressing Black crowds. Republican candidates showed no such pattern. The difference was not random. It was consistent, measurable, and unique to white liberals." . . . More...

Let's Take a Trip Down Memory Lane With Iran's Mullahs

 PJ Media

First this update: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s ex-president who said ‘Israel must be wiped off the map,’ killed in Israeli airstrikes

"Before all the signs, bricks, and whistles are placed in the hands of malign actors at NGO-sponsored “protests” planned in Seattle, New York, and elsewhere over the joint Israel–America strikes on Iran, we need to have a talk. Before the sounds of drum circles, whistles, and "Orange Man Bad" dozens take hold in the media, you take a seat for a minute. We've got 47 years to cover in our short window, but I'll make it quick. 

""The important point about Iran's mullahs is that no one has to use hyperbolic language to convey the acts of pure evil leveled against the U.S. and others in the 47 years since Jimmy Carter let them sack Iran. 

"Iran's Islamic Nazis are the worst progenitors of state-sponsored terrorism this side of Genghis Khan, except old Genghis was more tolerant than the mullahs of others' religious beliefs.

" 'We begin in 1979 because that’s the most logical spot for our purposes. That year, the so‑called "college students" raped, ransacked, and stole the wealth of Iran — bankrolling the mullahs’ conversion of one of the most successful, wealthy, and modern nations in the region into an Islamic hellscape and weapons‑grade nut farm.

"When someone asks, show them these reasons why the U.S. has beef with Iran." . . .

More...

1988 - Colonel William R. Higgins was kidnapped tortured for months. An autopsy found that he had been starved, the skin on his face had been partially removed along with his tongue and he had also been castrated.
Finally his body was dumped near a mosque.
/5 pic.twitter.com/uWBQR56a9Z

— Daniel Greenfield - "Hang Together or Separately" (@Sultanknish) June 18, 2025

SOTU and Iran: not Democrats finest moments

"They invoke the Constitution against Trump — even as history and their own record tell a different story." And they support those wearing Hamas scarves while they assault Jews in Western cities. TD

 The Democrats’ Epic Fury Over Iran Strikes | The American Spectator

"And no Trump-ordered operation would be complete without a denunciation from that widely-respected foreign policy authority, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez " 

"It was hardly necessary to consult Nostradamus to predict that the Democrats, who profess to abhor oppressive authoritarian theocracies, would denounce President Trump’s decision to topple the government of Iran — the very definition of such a regime. Nor was it a surprise that they downplay or simply ignore the obvious elation with which the Iranians themselves greeted the long overdue demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is striking, however, that the Democrats fail to see that their reflexive attacks on Trump for taking action against such a dangerous regime and indifference to the response of the Iranian people reinforces the public perception that their party is weak and out of touch.

"The last two Democrat Presidents have already damaged their party’s credibility where Iran is concerned by coddling the Khamenei regime with financial, diplomatic, and political concessions. Nonetheless a key architect of the Obama administration’s disastrous 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), Ben Rhodes, had the unmitigated  audacity to post the following on social media: “Trump lied about being against forever wars, he broke the most basic promise he made to his own supporters.” Rhodes’ comments were not well received. Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard A. Grenell responded, “You were part of the team who gave billions of dollars to the Iranian Regime … Once again, President Trump is cleaning up your mess.” . . .  More...

War With Iran: Justified Strike, Uncertain Horizon  . . . "It is a prime responsibility of reporters and columnists to get the facts straight. In war, this is almost impossible to do with any speed so the urge to get a scoop that beats the competition is a recipe for getting the facts wrong.

"We have to assume that the air strikes — which may not be accompanied by landing forces in Iran — will go on for days, weeks and, possibly, months. Mr. Trump and his administration have also to be prepared for other hotspots — such as Taiwan — which could erupt in days or weeks because other nations will want to take advantage of our preoccupation with Iran. If a war breaks out over Taiwan, it’s highly questionable whether we can cope with that while operations are going on in Iran. Russian President Putin will be tempted to try to push his luck in Ukraine.

"Chinese intervention is also possible if we bomb Iran’s principal oil export facility at Kharg Island. If we hit Kharg Island quickly, we could cripple both Iran’s and China’s economies. It would be entirely worthwhile to do so but there are risks.

"Mr. Trump has indicated that regime change in Iran is his — and our Israeli allies’ — goal. That will take more than air strikes to accomplish.

"Who will govern Iran after the ayatollahs’ regime falls?" . . .More... 

Here's the Geopolitical Mistake Iran Made That Only Led to More Nations Lining Up Against Them

 How must Democrats feel? What if Kamala had been President? How have the enslaved people of Iran fared under other Democrats in office? Jimmy Carter? Barack Obama, who forsook them to feel that he and the Iranians he feared were friends who would not harm him?

Matt Vespa; Townhall   

“Many people in the Gulf woke up Saturday pissed off at the United States and Israel, and went to sleep pissed off at Iran,” 

Broc Smith –

Iran had to act, but it only worsened their situation: the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was dead, and their military leadership was eliminated. They responded with missile strikes against Israel and other Gulf nations. The idea was that this would turn those countries against the United States and pressure them to stop the air campaign. However, it backfired, causing the entire region to turn against Iran—Saudi Arabia, in particular, sided with the US, which is expected. While the kingdom often follows a narrative to placate anti-Israel sentiments, it remains a rival of Iran both geopolitically and religiously—the Saudis are Sunni and the Iranians are majority Shiite, two branches that aren’t too cozy with one another (via WSJ):

So far, this calculus seems to have backfired. Gulf states, rattled by volleys of Iranian drones and missiles targeting their hotels, ports and airports, are concluding the Iranian peril must be confronted. Rather than seeking an offramp, the prevailing mood in the Gulf—at least for now—is that the Iranian regime can’t be allowed to get away with this unprecedented onslaught on its neighbors.

"The subplot to Iran’s nuclear ambitions was Saudi Arabia’s declaration some 20 years ago that it would start its own nuclear weapons program if Tehran acquired the bomb. No one wants a nuclear arms race in the Middle East."  . . .

"Iranian Exiles Dance to Trump's YMCA After Khamenei's Death in Strikes "Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, died on February 28, 2026, in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian leadership amid rising tensions; Trump confirmed the action due to imminent threats, and Iranian media verified it the next day with 40 days of mourning declared. Exiles in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco celebrated with Trump's signature YMCA moves to the Village People's song, led by monarchist supporters hoping for regime change after decades of Khamenei's rule. While some condemned the festivities as tasteless, the scenes highlighted deep diaspora resentment and rare unity with America and Israel." https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HaIkAVRmuaI

Gavin Newsom slammed for talking out of both sides of his mouth in bizarre response to Trump's Iran attack

Daily Mail Online

"A third commenter urged the governor to back the country during a time of conflict: 'I know this is hard for you Gavin, so let's try saying it together: 'I support America.' "

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a fierce backlash after critics accused him of 'talking out of both sides of his mouth' in a blistering response to President Donald Trump's unprecedented strike on Iran.

" 'Newsom's statement both called for the end of Tehran's regime while condemning the military operation targeting it as 'illegal' and 'dangerous.'

"Newsom posted a sharply worded message on X in the hours following the coordinated US-Israeli assault on Iranian targets.

"'The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go,' Newsom wrote. 

"'But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people. 

"'President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home.'

"Within minutes, critics pounced - arguing the governor's position was contradictory." . . .More

"Hey, I'm a lover, not a governor!"

More  "As Gavin Newsom prepares to announce his presidential bid, likely sometime at the beginning of next year, and is set to release his memoir next week, he is attracting increased press scrutiny into his early political career.

"That invites all sorts of risks for Newsom, as his early history is filled with colorful scandals and controversies. Of course, that’s likely why Newsom is putting his book out now: It will get the media scrutiny out of the way, thereby preventing things from blowing up in his face during his official presidential campaign." . . . More ...

Gavin Newsom Runs Into Trouble With Intelligence Comments | The American Spectator   "Gavin Newsom has been busy touring around the country to promote his memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. While speaking to a crowd in Atlanta about his book, he told the audience that he is just like them because he scored a 960 on his SAT."  More...

AOC’s Ignorance Is No Laughing Matter

  American Greatness  "AOC’s ignorance isn’t just about cowboys, in other words. It’s also about the greatest and most profound tragedies in world history. Her ignorance is dangerous."

"As I have noted before in these pages, “Marcuse conceded that the capitalist system was simply too good at providing goods and services that made the masses comfortable and happy. It therefore deprived them of ever knowing or caring about their true oppressed consciousness. Workers had become one-dimensional consumers, distracted from their fate by their egos and the creature comforts of capitalism.'”....... The warmth of capitalism!

 

 "Over the past week or so, many on the political Right have understandably enjoyed a laugh or two at the expense of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D, N.Y.). AOC went to the Munich Security Conference to provide “balance” to the Trump administration’s presence and to burnish her own credentials on the global stage. Instead, she mostly just made a fool of herself. Not only did she stutter, stammer, and offer a Kamala Harris-esque non-answer when asked about American interests in and obligations to Taiwan, but she also demonstrated a comically poor grasp of geography and a righteously ignorant understanding of history. In an effort to rebut and embarrass U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, AOC embarrassed only herself, showing that historical facts mean far less to her than identity-inspired fiction.

"But while it’s inarguably fun to chuckle at and mock the ignorance of the smug congresswoman and presumed presidential aspirant, it is also important to acknowledge that her historical and political illiteracy extends beyond the superficial and touches on matters of real and critical importance. Notably, this purported champion of the working class does not know the history of working-class politics, does not understand the reasons for the collapse of the working-class-centered ideology, and, as a result, has never contemplated the dangers inherent in attempting to resuscitate that failed doctrine.

"Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez has long emphasized her biography and working-class roots to enhance her political status—and justifiably so. Her childhood may not have been quite the struggle she pretends it was, but she nevertheless endured economic hardships—especially after her father’s death—and was unable to find employment commensurate with her education. She was, famously, a bartender and a cocktail waitress before her election to Congress and, as a result, has long fashioned herself a champion of the working class and its purported priorities.

"Indeed, on her trip to Munich, AOC emphasized her affinity with the working class and admonished democratic nations to erect a bulwark against totalitarianism by focusing on workers, workers’ rights, and worker-centered politics. “It is of utmost urgent priority that we get our economic houses in order and deliver material gains for the working class,” the congresswoman said, “or else we will fall to a more isolated world governed by authoritarians that also do not deliver to working people.” She railed against large corporations and especially billionaires, insisting that they had to be stopped from “throwing their weight around” in domestic and international politics. In short, the good congresswoman used her trip to Munich to urge the workers of the world to unite, because, as she sees it, they have nothing to lose but their chains." 

"There’s only one little problem with AOC’s exhortation: it’s ridiculous. Indeed, it’s been tried . . . and tried . . . and tried. It doesn’t work. And when I say that, I don’t mean that socialism doesn’t work or that communism has been tried countless times before and failed every time. That much is obvious by now. Rather, what I mean is that the workers of the world don’t care about the rest of the workers of the world." . . . More...