'Great way to go to jail': Hegseth's 'rules of engagement' threat sets off alarms

During a press conference at the Pentagon early morning, DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a belligerent defense of the attack on Iran, and sneered at traditional US allies over “pearl-clutching” and the press for spreading “fake news.”

At the same time, he set off a social media firestorm by promising he would set aside traditional rules of engagement designed to prevent war crimes.

After an over-the-top claim that the initial attack the US conducted the “most lethal aerial assault in history,” he boasted, “Israel has clear missions as well for which we are grateful. Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force,” before asserting there would be “no stupid rules of engagement.”

That caught the eyes of social media commenters on BlueSky, who expressed alarm at what that might entail.

“’No stupid rules of engagement’ means no Geneva Conventions or other international humanitarian laws, which the U.S. signed and supported for more than a century. Hegseth and Trump are pro-war crimes,” observed former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacobs.

Analyst Leah McElrath wrote, “No stupid rules of engagement” is one for the history books—and not in a good way.”

Democratization Policy Council founder Toby Fogel warned, "'no stupid rules of engagement’ is a great way to go to jail for war crimes.”

“I don’t know how many times it needs to be said, but rules of engagement are for the safety of our troops as much as they’re for protecting civilian lives. F------ idiot children running the joint,” pointed out academic Lee Papa who goes by “Rude Pundit.”

National security analyst Stephanie Carvin wrote, “’No stupid rules of engagement’ is nihilism.”

“This is why so many generals think he’s a complete tool,” explained journalist Will Harris.

Hegseth: "Israel has clear missions as well for which we are grateful. Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force ... no stupid rules of engagement."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 2, 2026 at 5:14 AM