Pete Hegseth and Gen Dan Caine’s briefing at the Pentagon produced very little new information that helps the world understand the course of the ongoing war in Iran.
One thing, however, stands out: the Trump administration is losing patience with what it sees as a lack of involvement from its allies, particularly as it pertains to securing shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, the US president took to Truth Social, telling those allies to “build up some delayed courage” and “just take” the Strait.
In a brief phone interview with CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, Trump expanded on that idea, saying that the allies have to “come do their own work”. Hegseth doubled down on that exasperation, arguing that the US has “set the conditions of success” and that the Strait of Hormuz is “not just an American problem set.”