Trump Rules Out Nuclear Strikes Amid Pentagon Internal Conflict

President Donald Trump ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran during an Oval Office press conference, dismissing the suggestion as a stupid question. He characterized Iran as a failed nation with decimated military capabilities and extreme inflation, asserting that the country is already defeated militarily. While Trump maintained that the U.S. may still smack Iranian forces, he emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central objective to protect Israel and the Middle East.

These comments follow recent U.S. military strikes against Iranian forces allegedly preparing to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the strikes, internal tensions have emerged within the U.S. Department of Defense. Senior military leaders have formally non-concurred with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's plan to maintain over 50,000 troops on alert. These leaders warned that the six-month conflict, which has cost $37.5 billion and 18 American lives, is unsustainable and strains the Pentagon's ability to respond to other global threats.

While Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby confirmed the Pentagon has developed credible nuclear options for the region, the administration has faced leaks of classified assessments. A spokesperson for Hegseth dismissed reports of military dissent as inaccurate and characterized the leaking of such assessments as a crime. Separately, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart to either warn Russia against attacking NATO or pressure it to negotiate peace with Ukraine.