Trump, Hegseth tie Iran war into 9/11 speeches

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Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story A link between Iran war and 9/11 in Trump administration speechesPresident Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tied the Iran war to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in remarks at the Pentagon, suggesting the conflict is a continuation of the war on terror.AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein “We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world’s number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said to claps from the audience at the ceremony. Hegseth, speaking ahead of the president, said the U.S. remains “vigilant.” “Our warriors have fought an Islamic theocracy that has wished us death for nearly half a century, that cheered on 9/11,” he said. “We’re still sending terrorists where they belong — to hell — and tankers to the bottom of the ocean, where they belong,” Hegseth added. “And we are ensuring that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” He reiterated that the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz and has destroyed Iran’s navy. The global “war on terror” was declared shortly after the attacks in New York and lasted nearly 20 years, focusing on al Qaeda militants. The U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Trump said earlier this week he sees the Iran war, which has already passed its six-month mark, lasting until the November midterm elections. He said he thinks the war will “end immediately” after the election. “They can’t hold out any longer,” Trump told reporters of Iran. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice, weak group of people in there, and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.” However, a Wall Street Journal report from Thursday said that Iran has resumed production of ballistic missiles, contradicting Trump administration claims that the country’s military capabilities have been destroyed. Read the full report at thehill.com. Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Proxy fight in Yemen heats up, risking new front in US-Iran war The Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group’s reported takeover of a Yemen port city is raising the stakes in Tehran’s war with the U.S. Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s military, is reportedly urging President Trump to strike the rebels, while the U.S. has sent more than 100 advisors to aid its Saudi allies in the fight. In a further escalation, Saudi Arabia on Friday said that it shut down the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh … Full Story CIA releases never-before-seen warnings to Bush, Clinton about al Qaeda The CIA on Friday publicly released for the first time a tranche of daily intelligence briefings provided ahead of Sept. 11, 2001, to former Presidents George W. Bush and Clinton about al Qaeda’s plans to commit terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. The intelligence agency released 71 declassified documents in what CIA Director John Ratcliffe called “an act of exceptional transparency” on the 25th anniversary of the attacks. … Full Story Top Ukrainian official gives inside look at the war with Russia (NewsNation) EXCLUSIVE — Four and a half years after Russia attacked Ukraine, the war between the two countries continues to rage. But this is not just a regional war, according to Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Budanov says we could be at the beginning of World War III, if peace does not prevail soon. “North Korean troops are in Europe. Russia is supporting Iran that fights the U.S. … Full Story Former DHS chiefs: New public safety agency needed Former heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called for a public safety agency to be established on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In a joint interview with NBC News on Thursday, former DHS Secretaries Michael Chertoff and Jeh Johnson discussed the current direction of the agency, which they both said “has gotten off track.” Johnson, who served under former President Obama from 2013 … Full Story On Our Radar Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat: The Air and Space Forces Association will hold its Air, Space and Cyber Conference at 9 a.m. Monday. The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs will discuss “The realities of governing during wartime, the resilience of Ukraine’s frontline communities, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” Monday at 4 p.m. In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: 25 years after 9/11, airport security gets second look from Trump The 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks falls as the Trump administration has scaled back expanded security measures put in place at airports across the nation to prevent terrorists from using planes against the U.S. ever again. The hijacking of planes ushered in a new era of screenings, … Full Story What We’re Reading News we’ve flagged from other outlets: Behind the scenes, Vance gathered unvarnished views of the Iran War, The New York Times reports Houthis seize strategic Red Sea port in Yemen, and other Mideast developments, The Associated Press reports CIA officer’s arrest with 303 gold bars thrusts the Pentagon’s No. 2 into an unwelcome spotlight, NBC News reports Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Lutnick says $5K dividend would not use taxpayer dollars Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Thursday that the $5,000 dividends President Trump promised U.S. adults earlier this week would not come from … Read more Former President Bush to Gen. Dan Caine: ‘Thank God you are where you are’ Former President George W. Bush on Thursday lavished praise on Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine, amid the ongoing war with Iran. “Thank … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: US must adopt the Finland model for producing warships9/11 showed we must always be looking toward the next threat 9/11 has had a lasting effect on world affairs You’re all caught up. Check out The Hill's Defense page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view all our topical emails here 📩 Privacy Policy | Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe 400 N. Capitol St. NW Suite 950, Washington, DC 20001Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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