Father of service member killed in Iran war said he never told Pete Hegseth to 'finish' the job - NBC News
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Father of service member killed in Iran war denies urging Defense Secretary Hegseth to escalate military action.
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The father of a U.S. service member killed in Iran has denied making comments to Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, urging him to "finish" military action against Iran. The denial comes after reports suggested the bereaved father had made such a request during an encounter with Hegseth. Hegseth, who was confirmed as Defense Secretary in the Trump administration, has been a vocal advocate for aggressive military posture toward Iran. The clarification matters because it addresses claims that could shape public perception of both the grieving parent's views and Hegseth's stated rationale for potential military decisions. The incident underscores tensions around how the administration frames military action, particularly when invoking the memories of fallen service members.
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