Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used a Saturday appearance at Notre Dame to question the U.S. fight with Iran and urge a shake-up in conservative media.
What happened
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) spoke Saturday, Nov. 7, at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. His official X account posted a broadcast of the remarks at 1:40 PM ET.
He focused on two topics: Iran and right-wing media. His remarks came days after Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections, according to Mediaite.
DeSantis on Iran
DeSantis said he still supports Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites, according to Florida Politics. But he argued that this year’s campaign went beyond removing “problematic sites.”
He said Israel “took out the Ayatollah” and other clerics in what he called “a decapitation strike.” That term means an attack aimed at a country’s top leaders. “That’s like the point of no return, right?” he said.
He said the goal, “certainly from Israel,” was regime change, or replacing Iran’s government. “Now, that’s not something that we’re going to be able to impose,” he added.
Other points he raised, according to Florida Politics:
- The action “just kind of happened” without “much of a real debate.”
- People expected it to end after a week or two, but it did not.
- Higher oil prices brought “pain at the pump.”
- Top officials sent mixed messages when it began.
On the mixed messages, he pointed to “Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,” the secretary of state and the vice president. “They all said a little bit different when this was launched,” he said. “And that’s been part of the problem.”
He warned that Iran’s remaining leaders may now be stronger and less eager to deal. “So my fear is that it’s going to kind of drag on,” he said.
DeSantis on conservative media
DeSantis also called for “a big change in kind of the conservative media culture,” according to Mediaite. “Because a lot of that is a grift, and it’s pay-to-play,” he said.
He urged a more “bottom-up” approach with “less focus on the presidency.” “I think we deserve an American Right that’s fit to fight,” he said.
He named no specific commentators, Mediaite reported. He also criticized the mainstream press, saying some journalists “make some of this stuff up.”
The administration’s stance
As of about 7:20 PM ET Saturday, HISARAK found no direct response to DeSantis’s remarks from the White House, the Pentagon, Hegseth, the State Department or the vice president.
The administration has publicly stood by Hegseth. The White House posted on X Saturday morning: “Thanks to President Trump and @SecWar Pete Hegseth, true American strength is back.”
In a 60 Minutes interview previewed by CBS, President Trump answered “I do” when asked if he has confidence in Hegseth. “I love my Cabinet,” he said, though he added there could be “maybe a few changes.”
Sources: DeSantis X post | Florida Politics | Mediaite | White House X post | CBS News
