Overview
- In a Fox News interview, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a draft is "not part of the current plan" while emphasizing that the president keeps "options on the table."
- The exchange followed President Trump saying ground troops could be possible only for a "very good reason," a stance that has heightened focus on escalation options.
- Backlash surged online, with former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others condemning any draft as the clip circulated widely on social platforms.
- There is no verified indication the administration is preparing conscription, and reinstating a draft would first require Congress to authorize it under the Military Selective Service Act.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to outline operational limits as officials confirmed a seventh U.S. death in the conflict, later identifying Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington.