Trump Weighs Who to Blame for Iran War Among Hegseth and Caine, Atlantic Says

President Donald Trump is weighing renewed strikes on Iran, possibly soon after Tuesday’s midterms, The Atlantic reported on Nov. 1. He is also questioning allies about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs chairman. Two outside advisers close to Trump told the magazine this.

Authors Nancy Youssef and Jonathan Lemire write that Trump is searching for someone to blame. They say he is angry that the war is hurting Republicans. He is focused on those who promised it would be quick. Clash Report has not independently confirmed the account.

Hegseth Under Scrutiny

Some people close to Trump say Hegseth paints the war in rosy terms. “Hegseth is good at telling the president what he wants to hear,” one outside adviser told The Atlantic. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell called any suggestion that Hegseth withholds information “dead wrong.”

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump has “full confidence” in both men. The Atlantic notes that neither has held a press conference since May.

Last week Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Joint Staff’s director of planning, as Clash Report covered. Officials told The Atlantic that Sylvia failed polygraphs tied to leaks. Hegseth ordered at least three after reports on White House talks and munitions shortages.

Sylvia could not be reached for comment. The Joint Staff first thanked him for “32 years of distinguished service.” A later statement said that wording “did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances.”

The Options on the Table

Hegseth, Caine and CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper presented options at the White House last week. Officials say they range from strikes lasting hours, days or weeks to keeping the Hormuz blockade. Trump could also walk away.

A long campaign would hit Iran’s defenses and infrastructure with civilian and military uses. Another scenario is a days-long campaign against the nuclear program. Netanyahu is expected to back renewed strikes, the magazine says.

Michael Cohen of the Stimson Center warned that failed strikes would expose their limits. “Keep escalating?” he asked.

Last Sunday, Vice President JD Vance sent Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei a letter proposing direct talks. It says the nuclear program must be addressed from the outset. Mediators want a meeting later this week, around when Trump may decide.

Politics and Precedent

The options do not address Iran’s proxies, such as the Houthis, who recently attacked Saudi Arabia. One official said Trump’s turn against Ukraine is partly about getting more Russian energy to market. Sen. Chris Murphy called the plans “insane.”

Trump has not yet given the order, the advisers said. On Saturday he said the U.S. still has “one or two sites” to hit in Iran, RTÉ reported. Rubio said no decision had been made. Hegseth has fired or forced out more than two dozen generals and admirals. The Atlantic notes that Bush blamed Rumsfeld after the 2006 midterms, then ordered the Iraq surge two months later.