GOP Rep Derrick Van Orden claims ex-US military officers are ‘rooting’ for Iran: ‘It’s shameful’

WASHINGTON, DC: During a TV appearance, House Republican Derrick Van Orden claimed that some former US military officers are "rooting for" the Iranian regime. His remarks sparked immediate attention amid the US and Israel's ongoing conflict with Iran.

Van Orden made the comment during an appearance on Fox News Friday night. He said that a particular group in the US military didn't agree with America's policy toward Iran, but he didn't give any specific proof or name any individual.

Rep Van Orden makes wild claim during TV appearance

Rep. Van Orden (R-WI) wildly claimed that a group of former US military officers “are actually rooting for the Iranian regime” amid America’s conflict with the Middle Eastern country.

Speaking with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, said there are former officers within the US military who are sympathetic to Iran, framing the issue as part of broader concerns about internal divisions.

“Granted, I don’t trust these guys as far as I can throw them, but it’s time to start negotiating, and [President] Donald J. Trump is negotiating, and everybody lied about it. They said, “That didn’t happen,” he said.

“CNN, for instance, which is another trash network, they were taking the word of the Iranian regime,” Van Orden said.

“And there’s something else I’d like to bring up. It’s not just the mainstream media,” he pointed out.

“There’s a whole pile of former general officers and flag officers who are actually rooting for the Iranian regime, and it’s shameful,” he claimed. 

The lawmaker did not cite documentation or official reports to support the claim. The segment, however, quickly gained traction online and was widely circulated across media platforms.

Van Orden claims former military officials ‘subverted’ President Trump

The remarks come as the United States remains engaged in ongoing military operations with Iran amid escalating tensions following the US-Israel joinstrikes on the Middle Eastern nation and a series of retaliatory strikes.

“It’s just absolutely foolish, and they’re rooting against the United States of America,” Van Orden claimed, adding, “Now you know who these people really are and how they have subverted President Trump during his first administration and how they’re trying to subvert him now when they’re civilians. It’s shameful.”

The claim comes at a time when US military leaders have publicly said they support the ongoing operations.

The Pentagon has kept saying that the mission is focused on stopping threats and keeping the region stable.

The U.S. military has been heavily involved in the 2026 conflict with Iran. Operations have included deploying air and naval troops, and coordinating with allies on carrying out operations in the Middle Eastern country.