Whoopi Goldberg, cohost of ABC's The View, criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during Wednesday's broadcast over the administration's military operations in the Middle East, arguing that he 'should know' what service members face when deployed.
Goldberg and her cohosts repeated earlier criticisms that President Donald Trump's administration launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran without adequate planning for contingencies. The cohosts alleged the operation amounted to 'sending people in to die' without a clear strategy.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives have pushed back against Goldberg's criticism, noting that Hegseth served two tours in Afghanistan as a U.S. Army infantry officer. Critics argue the actress and cohost, who has never served in the military, is not qualified to lecture a veteran secretary on military matters.
Defense Department officials have defended Operation Epic Fury as a necessary response to Iranian aggression, arguing that the operation was planned with the safety of American troops as a priority. Administration supporters note that removing the Iranian threat serves long-term American security interests.
Social media commentators on the right have questioned why Goldberg is criticizing military leadership during an active operation, arguing such public criticism could embolden adversaries and undermine troop morale.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have supported Goldberg's concerns about military planning, arguing that deploying troops without a clear endgame puts American lives at unnecessary risk. Some Democratic lawmakers have similarly questioned the administration's justification for military action against Iran.
Sunny Hostin, Goldberg's cohost, agreed during the segment: 'He served. He should know what —' before Goldberg interrupted to complete the thought about understanding what soldiers endure.
Abby Huntsman added: 'He should know better than anybody.' Progressives have argued that those who have served in the military have a particular responsibility to ensure troops are not placed in harm's way without proper planning.
What the Numbers Show
Operation Epic Fury represents the first major U.S. military offensive against Iran, launched under the Trump administration. The operation targeted Iranian military infrastructure and proxy forces in the Middle East.
Goldberg alleged during the broadcast that the administration was 'manipulating the numbers' regarding troop deployments, but no independent verification of these claims was provided. The Pentagon has not released specific deployment figures for the operation.
No official casualty figures have been publicly disclosed by the Defense Department as of the broadcast date. Goldberg's claims about troop numbers being hidden have not been independently verified.
The Bottom Line
The debate reflects ongoing tensions over the administration's Iran policy and questions about military planning. Goldberg's criticism centers on whether proper contingencies were in place before launching the offensive, a question the Pentagon has not directly addressed publicly.
The exchange highlights the broader political divide over U.S. military intervention in the Middle East, with progressives emphasizing caution and troop safety, while supporters of the operation argue decisive action was necessary to protect American interests. Future congressional oversight hearings may provide more details about operational planning and deployment numbers.