Trump's ex-DOD chief warns U.S. on 'back foot' in Iran

The war began in late February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that took out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

By Ben Whedon

Published: August 11, 2026 9:58am

Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper opined this week that the U.S. was not in a strong position in the ongoing Iran war and that the U.S. was struggling to achieve its overall strategic aims.

Esper served as secretary of defense from July 2019 to November 2020. Trump fired him after the election due to disagreements over his claims that voter fraud affected the outcome.

Speaking on The Hill's "Rising," said that the U.S. had "done a lot of tactical damage," but "strategically, we seem to be on our back foot right now.”

The war began in late February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that took out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The conflict was in a state of nominal ceasefire for weeks, until the breakdown of negotiations.

Trump has sought commitments from Iran to never possess a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has been unable to make. Despite continued bombardment of the country, the Iranian leadership has shown little sign of returning to the negotiating table and conceding key U.S. war aims.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.