US officials say Hegseth’s Iran war claims mislead public, Trump: report

The newspaper, citing unnamed administration officials, reported that Hegseth’s assessments regarding the conflict with Iran were “overly optimistic” and did not reflect battlefield realities.

“Pete is not speaking truth to the president,” one administration official told The Washington Post, adding: “As a result, the president is out there repeating misleading information.”

Concerns within the Trump administration reportedly deepened after Iran downed a US F-15 fighter jet and subsequent rescue operations were launched, raising questions about earlier claims by Hegseth that Iran had “no air defenses.”

President Donald Trump acknowledged Monday that an F-15 was brought down by a shoulder-fired heat-seeking missile over Iranian territory.

Kelly Grieco, a military analyst at the Stimson Center, told the Post that while the Trump administration has significantly degraded Iran’s navy, air force and fixed missile and radar targets, the F-15’s downing is what happens “when you have air superiority but don’t have air supremacy.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly rejected allegations that the defense secretary misled the president and said Trump had always been aware Iran would respond militarily.

“He has always had the full picture of the conflict. Nothing has surprised him or our military planners, who were prepared for any possible contingency,” she said.

Other US officials, speaking to the Post on condition of anonymity, said concerns over Hegseth’s war messaging extended beyond his claims of US air dominance.

Hegseth’s description of Iran’s missile and drone programs as being “overwhelmingly destroyed” contrasted with intelligence assessments indicating more than half of missile launchers remained intact and thousands of attack drones were still available, according to a recent US assessment first reported by CNN.

Another point of scrutiny came March 31, when Hegseth said the number of Iranian missile and drone launches had fallen to a lower level than any other 24-hour period since the war began, presenting it as evidence that “relentless” US and Israeli strikes were degrading Iran’s ability to sustain attacks.

Administration officials said the claim was incorrect, noting lower 24-hour launch levels on March 14, 15 and 22.

“Documents sent around internally contradict Hegseth’s claims,” one official said.

US officials also criticized Hegseth’s focus on launch numbers, saying Iran’s strategy appeared to be shifting from volume to more precise and efficient strikes. Seven US troops have died in Iranian counterattacks and six in a midair refueling accident, with nearly 375 others wounded, according to US tallies.