Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked fierce backlash following an explosive interview with “60 Minutes” correspondent Major Garrett on Sunday, in which the former Fox News host made provocative statements about the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran that critics labeled “grotesque” and dangerous.
The interview, which aired during Season 58, Episode 23 of the CBS newsmagazine program on March 8, addressed the war with Iran as it entered its second week and examined President Trump’s demand for “unconditional surrender” from Tehran. The episode, titled “Targeting Americans; Secretary Hegseth,” drew immediate and widespread criticism.
One of the most contentious moments came when Garrett questioned whether Russian involvement—providing intelligence to Iran on U.S. movements in the region—could put American personnel “in more danger than they otherwise would be.” Hegseth’s response sent shockwaves through viewers and commentators alike.
Hegseth said that no one was putting them in danger; rather, they were the ones putting others in danger, which he described as their job. He added that the only people who should be worried were Iranians who believed they were going to live.
The remark drew sharp condemnation from critics who characterized it as an indiscriminate threat against the entire Iranian population rather than specifically targeting combatants or regime officials. Journalist Laura Jedeed noted on Bluesky that Hegseth had targeted “not ‘terrorists,’ not ‘radicals,’ not even ‘Islamists.’ ‘Iranians.'”
The interview also addressed whether Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States when President Trump launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28. The joint U.S.-Israeli operation killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in its opening salvo and has since struck over 3,000 targets inside Iran, according to the Pentagon. Hegseth appeared to scoff at questions about the operation’s justification.
Garrett probed the circumstances surrounding the operation’s launch, noting that intelligence reports about Khamenei’s whereabouts had been provided through Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The reporter suggested the timing indicated the strike was driven more by opportunity than imminent threat.
Hegseth dismissed such concerns as “silly and academic,” pointing to what he described as 47 years of Iranian attacks on Americans dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 U.S. strike that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan with B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles. The administration claimed the operation “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, though international monitors estimate Iran still possesses over 970 pounds of nearly bomb-grade uranium.
Hegseth said that Iran should have agreed early on, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and committing to abandoning nuclear ambitions, but they did not. He added that, in his view, the president sees a long-term threat continuing to grow as a result.
Veterans and military analysts expressed dismay at Hegseth’s tone throughout the interview. Former service members condemned his rhetoric as unprofessional and damaging to the military’s reputation. Critics accused the Defense Secretary of treating the conflict with what they described as callous indifference to human life.
The episode consisted of two segments, with the first focusing on a criticized investigation into Havana Syndrome before transitioning to the Hegseth interview. The program is available for streaming on both CBS and Paramount Plus.
Hegseth, 45, was confirmed as Defense Secretary on January 24, 2025, in a razor-thin 51-50 vote that required Vice President JD Vance to break the tie—only the second time in U.S. history a vice president decided a Cabinet confirmation. Three Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell—joined all Democrats in opposing his nomination amid allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and excessive drinking.
During the interview, Hegseth addressed the operation’s scope and casualties. Six U.S. Army reservists were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on March 1, with a seventh service member’s death announced the day the interview aired. More than 1,600 Iranians have been killed, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, including 168 people—mostly children—at a girls’ school in southern Iran that was struck during the campaign.
When pressed on whether U.S. forces were involved in the school strike, Hegseth would only say, “We’re still investigating.” He emphasized that “unlike our adversaries, the Iranians, we never target civilians.”
Hegseth also declared that the Iranian Navy “is largely no more” and warned viewers that the military campaign is far from over. “What I want your viewers to understand is this is only just the beginning,” he said. “We have more munitions than we need.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the U.S. demand for surrender “a dream that they should take to their grave.” But Hegseth insisted Iran would have no choice. “This is war. This is conflict. This is bringing your enemy to their knees,” he said. “Whether they will have a ceremony in Tehran Square and surrender, that’s up to them.”
As of Tuesday, neither the White House nor the Defense Department has issued additional statements clarifying or walking back Hegseth’s comments. Defense officials announced Tuesday will be the “most intense day” of strikes against Iran since the operation began.
