Stephen Miller Lauds Trump's 'Politically Incorrect' Iran War, Condemns 'Woke Pentagon'
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller has celebrated the joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran, describing them as "politically incorrect" while launching a scathing attack on what he termed the "woke Pentagon" under prior administrations. Miller asserted that the US military, under President Donald Trump's leadership, is now unshackled and able to engage in conflict without restraint.
"What you're seeing right now is a military under President Trump's leadership that is not fighting politically correct. That isn't fighting with its hands tied behind its back," Miller declared. He argued that public confidence in the military's ability to defend the nation had eroded due to a "woke Pentagon," where top-level officials—not the combat troops—were compelled to wage a "less than full fight."
Escalating Conflict and Civilian Casualties
The reported death toll from the US-Israeli strikes has exceeded 1,000, including Iran's long-serving leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and 170 individuals at a girls' primary school. The White House has confirmed that the school incident is under investigation. Miller's comments align with those of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who emphasised on Monday that the US is operating "on our terms."
"No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise, no politically-correct wars. We fight to win," Hegseth stated, underscoring the administration's aggressive stance.
Public Disapproval Amidst War Rhetoric
These combative remarks from senior Trump administration figures come despite polling data revealing that a majority of American voters disapprove of the president's handling of the escalating war with Iran. A recent Hart Research Associates/Public Opinion Strategies poll for NBC News found that 54 percent of voters disapprove of Trump's approach, while only 41 percent approve.
The rapid descent into an unpopular conflict contrasts sharply with Trump's 2024 election campaign, where he championed an "America First" agenda and pledged, "I'm not going to start a war. I'm going to stop wars." Earlier this week, Trump suggested US military involvement in Iran might last "four to five weeks," but noted the capability to extend it further.
Unlimited Military Intervention and Strategic Messaging
However, Defense Secretary Hegseth indicated on Monday that Washington would not impose a time limit on military intervention, telling reporters, "President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take." In a Wednesday update, Hegseth boasted of the strikes' success, claiming, "We are only four days into this, and the results have been incredible, historic really... only the United States of America could lead this."
He delivered a stark message regarding Operation Eric Fury: "America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy. They are toast, and they know it. If you threaten Americans anywhere on this earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you." Hegseth also urged troops to ignore external criticism, advising them to "don't listen to the noise," disregard "fake news," and "stay focused." When questioned about the school strike, he reiterated that it is being investigated.
