President Donald Trump pushed back against reports that the Pentagon expressed concerns about military operations against Iran, calling them "100% not true."
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon had warned Trump about risks associated with military operations against Iran, including potential U.S. and allied casualties, weakened air defense systems, and troop overload. The warnings were primarily raised by Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine during Defense Department and National Security Council meetings, with other senior military officials expressing similar concerns.
According to the Journal, a prolonged conflict with Iran could result in significant losses to U.S. troop strength and ammunition stockpiles. A successful Iranian retaliation could also disrupt protection of allied nations. The report noted that massive consumption of ammunition and supplies could affect U.S. preparedness for potential future conflicts with China.
Some officials explained that such discussions are routine procedures for contingency planning before military operations. The Joint Chiefs Chairman is responsible for carefully estimating casualties and costs of operations and conveying them to leadership.
Other major outlets reported similar accounts the same day. The Washington Post reported that Chairman Caine expressed concerns about Iran attack operations during White House and Pentagon meetings, citing uncertainty over allied support and potential U.S. casualties.
The New York Times reported that Caine said the current troop buildup in the Middle East increases the risk of U.S. casualties and would negatively impact weapons stockpiles. He indicated the operation would be "far more difficult" than last month's operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Axios, citing two sources, reported that Caine has continuously advised Trump and senior officials about significant risks of military operations and the possibility of a prolonged conflict.
Trump responded on Truth Social: "Fake news outlets are circulating stories that Chairman Caine is opposed to war with Iran. This is 100% not true."
"Chairman Caine, like all of us, does not want war, but he thinks if we attack Iran, we can win easily," Trump wrote. "The final decision maker is me." He warned that "if no deal is reached with Iran, it will be a very tragic day for Iran and its people."
Following Trump's rebuttal, the Post reported that military officials who conveyed Caine's concerns presented views "directly at odds with Trump's optimism." The Post noted that "the scale of an Iran attack depends on Trump's objectives," adding that "neutralizing Iran's missile program would require striking hundreds of targets across Iran, which is more than three times larger than Iraq." Former Defense Department officials warned such an operation could last weeks or months, require far more weapons, and expose U.S. forces to greater risk of stronger Iranian retaliation.