President Donald Trump said Monday he wants a “real end” to the escalating Iran-Israel conflict and signaled he may send senior United States officials to meet with the Islamic Republic.
As he considers direct intervention in the crisis, there appear to be divisions over how best to confront Tehran within his current National Security Council (NSC). The team includes both hardliners who favor military pressure and others who remain skeptical of deeper U.S. involvement abroad.
When approached for comment on whether the U.S. would consider military action against Iran, the Pentagon redirected Newsweek to a statement by the chief Pentagon spokesperson, which said: “American Forces are maintaining their defensive posture & that has not changed. We will protect American troops & our interests.”
Newsweek has assessed, based on public records, where key members of Trump’s NSC stand on the question of potential military action against Iran.
Donald Trump: Hawk
Trump hasn’t ruled out U.S. involvement in the current hostilities. Speaking with ABC News on Sunday, the president said that while the U.S. is “not involved” in the fighting between Iran and Israel, “it’s possible we could get involved.”
He added: “But we are not at this moment involved.”
Pressed on whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked the U.S. to join the conflict, Trump declined to comment. His comments came amid reports that Israel had urged Washington to expand its role in the conflict to eliminate its nuclear program.
On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran “should have signed the deal I told them to sign” and said “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
JD Vance: Likely Dove
Vice President JD Vance, Trump’s closest ally, has called for Washington to avoid deploying troops to assist in conflicts overseas. The U.S. Marine veteran has been “one of the toughest critics of American engagement overseas, focusing first and foremost on domestic policy,” according to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
Marco Rubio: Hawk
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled that the U.S. will respond forcefully if Iran targets American personnel or assets. In a statement on June 12, he said Washington’s top priority is “protecting American forces in the region” as the conflict escalates.
“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran…Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,” Rubio said. “President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners.”
Rubio issued a stern warning: “Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
Pete Hegseth: Likely Hawk
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday underscored America’s defensive posture vis-à-vis Iran, telling Fox News that Trump’s priority is still achieving a new nuclear agreement with Iran.
“We believe that Iran…should not have a nuclear weapon,” he told Fox News’s Jesse Watters. “That position hasn’t changed.”
“Right now, we’ve got assets in the region and we’re going to defend them,” Hegseth said, adding: “We’re strong, we’re prepared, we’re defensive…President Trump hopes there can be peace.”
He said in a statement Monday that he had directed “the deployment of additional capabilities” to the Middle East.
“Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,” he added.
Tulsi Gabbard: Likely Dove
Director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, known for her fervent anti-interventionist views, is likely to oppose U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities. In March, she told lawmakers that the American intelligence community did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon, according to the Associated Press.
Responding to that, Trump said: “I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.”
Kristi Noem: Likely Hawk
It’s unclear whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would support U.S. military action in Iran, as she hasn’t issued a statement on the matter. However, she visited Israel last month, where she met with Netanyahu and reiterated the U.S.’s continued support for Israel.
Trump “extends his greetings and his grief to all of you, and he stands with you as we fight this hatred in the world,” Noem said at a ceremony, adding that there is “a unity among us that will help us defeat our enemies.”
She has also echoed Trump’s position that Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Chris Wright: Likely Dove
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright appears to be hawkish, but on sanctions against Iran.
He said in an interview with CNBC in April that Iran can “expect very tight sanctions,” which would “hopefully drive them to abandon their nuclear program.”
Wright also warned that the U.S. could block Iran’s oil exports as part of a pressure tactic.
Scott Bessent: Likely Dove
Similar to Wright, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington will apply “economic pressure” to “disrupt the Iranian regime’s access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities.”
“This includes the billions of dollars each year that Iran generates via its oil sales, which the regime also uses to finance its dangerous agenda and support its multiple terrorist proxies and partners, such as Hamas, the Houthis, and Lebanese Hizballah, and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq,” he said in April.
Bessent added: “Treasury has launched a comprehensive sanctions campaign, targeting every stage of Iran’s oil supply chain, from extraction to sale and financial settlement.”
Pam Bondi: Unclear
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s position is unclear as she has not publicly expressed any views on U.S. policy toward Iran or potential military intervention. She did, however, say last month that the shooting of two Israeli Embassy members in Washington, D.C., “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
General Dan Caine: Hawk
Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, appears to align with Trump’s position on Iran in that it should never have a nuclear weapon.
He said in a statement ahead of his Senate confirmation in April that “military force alone may not be sufficient to deter Iran” from obtaining a nuclear weapon, “and an approach that includes diplomatic engagement and economic incentives may be necessary.”
Susie Wiles: Unclear
The White House chief of staff’s stance on potential U.S. intervention is unclear, as she hasn’t publicly commented on the matter.
Dorothy Shea: Likely Dove
Dorothy Shea, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at a Security Council meeting in April that “fresh thinking is needed to bring about a durable peace and prosperity that provides opportunities for all the region’s people.”
“The United States prefers a negotiated resolution. Time, however, is limited. If Iran refuses to abandon its nuclear weapons program, we must hold it accountable.”
