Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host now at the Pentagon, has framed the US-Israeli military operation in Iran as a politically incorrect, regime-change war for the MAGA era, emphasizing a departure from past interventions. In a press conference on Monday, Hegseth defended the operation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," as being conducted "on our terms, with maximum authorities" and without the constraints of traditional allies. He contrasted this approach with the "forever wars" in the Middle East, drawing on his and JD Vance's experiences in Iraq, and asserting that this conflict would be different, shorter, and free from "nation-building" or "democracy-building exercises." Despite shifting rhetoric from President Trump regarding timelines and objectives, Hegseth insisted the administration has learned from past mistakes, focusing on executing military action without restrictive rules of engagement.