Trump points finger at Pentagon chief for pushing him into war

President Donald Trump blamed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for persuading him to launch the Iran war during a Memphis event Monday, claiming he initiated discussions about the Middle East threat with military leaders.

Trump bragged that the stock market had reached 50,000 before Operation Epic Fury began, suggesting continued gains were possible without military action. He framed the decision as a choice between economic growth and eliminating Iran as a "purveyor of terror" for 47 years.

Trump credited Hegseth as "the first one to speak up" in favor of military action, saying the defense secretary argued the U.S. couldn't allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Trump predicted the war could end soon due to "very good discussions" with Iran, though Iranian officials have denied any such talks occurred with the Trump administration.

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