Last week, the Pentagon was still conducting the investigation that led to Wednesday’s report that a U.S. missile likely killed more than 170 people at a school near an Iranian military base — and the White House was publishing to social media video montages that spliced snippets from video games and Hollywood action movies with real wartime footage out of Iran. Those social media posts were beneath the dignity of the White House, and they were released a day before the dignified transfer of American soldiers killed in the ongoing war provided an image of how deadly serious war is.
Those social media posts were beneath the dignity of the White House.
White House officials reportedly believe the Trump administration is losing the communications war with Americans. That concern may explain why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has started conducting news conferences after assiduously avoiding them. But the former Fox News host’s briefings have amounted to Fox News “performances,” replete with braggadocio and empty phrases like “we’re playing for keeps” and “death and destruction from the sky all day.” If he believes such vacuous presentations have inspired Americans, then he is sorely mistaken. Polls have found that most Americans are opposed to the United States’ war with Iran.
During a March 4 news conference, Hegseth used the deaths of American soldiers to air his grievances that go back at least to March 2025 when, according to the Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General, Hegseth violated Defense Department policy and put troops at greater risk when he used his personal cell phone to share sensitive military information in a group chat.
Instead of honoring the service of the fallen and mourning with their families, he minimized the loss. Specifically, he complained to the journalists assembled that “when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it’s front-page news. I get it … the press only wants to make the president look bad.” But it is also likely Hegseth believed that his remarks only needed to be approved by an audience of one, that is, President Donald Trump.
The contrast between Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, could not be more stark. Caine embodies calm professionalism. At that same March 4 news conference, he first sought to comfort the soldiers’ families and then provided information and analysis of ongoing military operations. He was apolitical, courteous to the press and he obviously believes the media has a responsibility to keep Americans informed and that the role of the press is not to be a cheerleader for the administration or to make the president look good.
The contrast between Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine could not be more stark.
Caine and Hegseth’s joint press conferences have made plain the relationship between the government and the military. Caine, as a representative of the military, has had an easier task, as it has been his job to describe the brilliance of the American military in conducting enormously complex military operations flawlessly. Hegseth, as the representative of the government, has needed to explain to Americans how these operations lead to national policy goals.
But the president and his administration have been vague about the reason for this attack and its goals. By one count, in the first six days, Trump provided 10 different rationales and has not convincingly described an imminent threat Iran posed to the U.S. that demanded action. This is a war of choice and not necessity. When Trump or Hegseth are pressed on the war’s aims they both immediately point to the excellence of the American military. During a recent phone interview, the president told ABC’s Jonathan Karl, “I hope you are impressed … How do you like the performance?” Sadly, in this Iran war the administration has been more interested in “performances” than the difficult challenge of matching military achievement with strategic objectives. But war remains a serious business. The failure to match military force and national goals jeopardizes the support of Americans and overall success. Which brings us back to the tasteless decision to blend video of our military operations in Iran with video games and blockbuster movies. While the administration may argue that it’s trying to appeal to the TikTok demographic, the posts were dystopian, inappropriate and objectionable. Does the president believe veterans, service members and the parents of those now in harm’s way find these inspirational or amusing? Does he think it will strike fear in our enemies? War is serious. And the president and his officials need to treat it as such.
Jeff McCausland
Jeff McCausland, a retired Army colonel, is a visiting professor at Dickinson College. He commanded a battalion in combat, was a member of the National Security Council and was dean of the U.S. Army War College. He is the author of a new book, "Battle Tested! Gettysburg Leadership Lessons," available on Amazon. 
