Former Air Force secretary questions ‘advice’ Trump received before starting Iran war

Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III on Sunday questioned the “advice” President Trump received in the lead-up to the Iran war.

“What I don’t understand, frankly, about the Iran war is what advice was given to the president that led him to start this conflict?” Kendall told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week.”

The Iran conflict has entered its seventh month, with the U.S. and Islamic Republic exchanging strikes this weekend and no sign of a deal to end hostilities. The war has resulted in the deaths of 18 U.S. service members and thousands of Iranian civilians.

The conflict has also burned up many of the American military’s missile interceptors , and the Pentagon has reached deals in recent weeks with multiple defense contractors to boost production .

While the initial joint U.S.-Israeli operation in February resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has succeeded him as supreme leader and Iranian officials are still expressing hardline views toward the U.S.

Noting Trump did not receive authorization from Congress to launch the war, Kendall said “the results of the initial strike have been about as one would have” predicted.

“The illusion that the Iranian regime would suddenly fall and this would be a very short conflict was not one that’s been held by anybody else until now,” added Kendall, who led the Air Force during the Biden administration.

The president on Friday equated the war to “small potatoes” and said he “can understand” why Vice President Vance claims he does not view the conflict as a war.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, though, acknowledged Sunday the U.S. is “still in a conflict” with Iran.

“It’s a challenge,” he told Raddatz earlier on “This Week.” “Iran is doing everything they can to cling on to something.”

The war also sparked higher gas prices in the U.S., as the Iranian military has restricted traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices are the highest they have ever been on Labor Day weekend, as roughly $4.14 per gallon, according to AAA .