Lt Gen Keith Kellogg hails Trump’s guts on Iran, says more courageous than previous presidents

Kellogg suggested Trump is a wartime president with the 'guts' to take decisive actions, such as economic pressure, to challenge Iran regime
Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg has praised Donald Trump for his courage to take firm steps in foreign policy matters, especially concerning Iran (Drew Angerer/Getty Images), AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg has praised Donald Trump for his courage to take firm steps in foreign policy matters, especially concerning Iran (Drew Angerer/Getty Images), AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the efforts to bring an end to the hostilities between the US and Iran after over 60 days of war, Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg has praised Donald Trump for his courage to take firm steps in foreign policy matters, especially concerning Iran.

Joseph Keith Kellogg is an American diplomat and retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He has served as the executive secretary and chief of staff of the United States National Security Council in the first Trump administration.

Israeli security forces inspect damage at an apartment building struck by an Iranian missile in Petah Tikva, Israel, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Maya Levin)
Israeli security forces inspect damage at an apartment building struck by an Iranian missile in Petah Tikva, Israel, Saturday, April 4, 2026 (AP Photo/Maya Levin)

Keith Kellogg hails Trump as more courageous than 7 previous presidents

Kellogg suggested Trump is a "wartime president" with the "guts" to take decisive actions, such as economic pressure, to challenge Iran regime, which, Kellogg said, his predecessors did not dare to do.

Appearing on Fox News, Kellogg said, “President Trump has had the courage that seven previous presidents haven’t." He further said that no other president dared “go into Iran and actually eliminate their nuclear capabilities,” adding, “you don't want another nuclear state because you handle a nuclear state differently than you handle others.”

He said that the US doesn’t want Iran to attend nuclear power.

When asked what is behind Iran still sticking to the battlefield in front of the US, despite no comparison between the military capabilities of the two, Kellogg said that wars are fought on “will.”

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 01: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House on May 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Florida for the weekend. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House on May 01, 2026, in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“Look, what we need to understand is that war is a battle of wills, and they think they could survive everything thrown at them.”

War status between the US and Iran

In a latest update on the war between Iran and the US, Iran on Sunday, May 3, said that it had received a formal response from the United States on the proposal. Iran had sent a 14-point peace proposal to Washington.

Earlier, Trump said that he was not satisfied with the offer extended by Iran.

The 14-point peace proposal episode marks the latest diplomatic exchange between the two nations to end the hostilities, which started on February 28.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that the US response was delivered through Pakistan and is currently under review by Tehran.

Pete Hegseth says, 'We are in ceasefire'

The ongoing war with Iran, which started with a joint military assault on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28, killing the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has entered its 10th week.

As the war timeline has crossed the 60-day deadline, Pete Hegseth, during the Armed Services Committee hearing, was asked if President Trump would ask Congress for authorization to continue the war.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 30, 2026 (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

"We are in a ceasefire right now, which, under our understanding, means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire," the secretary responded.

Under the War Powers Resolution, presidents must ask Congress for authorization to continue a military operation after 60 days.

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