@danlamothe.bsky.social
Military affairs reporter with The Washington Post. State-school alum. Beer-league softball enthusiast. Dog guy. Signal for encrypted tips: danlamothe.30
@danlamothe.bsky.socialAs Houthi militants attacked ships in the Red Sea last year, top U.S. officials gathered at the Pentagon to prepare military options for President Donald Trump. Their meetings repeatedly grew tense, over both end game and resources to be used. Our story today:
@danlamothe.bsky.socialReposted by @danlamothe.bsky.socialNEW: "General, the time for assessments is over."
Tense deliberations ahead of Operation Rough Rider foreshadowed Iran challenges to come
@danlamothe.bsky.socialNEW: "General, the time for assessments is over."
Tense deliberations ahead of Operation Rough Rider foreshadowed Iran challenges to come
@danlamothe.bsky.socialIt's Friday. That means another week has ended without a news briefing at the Pentagon. The last one was held May 5. That's five months ago next week.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialThe U.S. military is planning for a possible surge of thousands of naval forces to the Middle East in coming weeks, as President Donald Trump considers renewing strikes on Iran after the midterm elections, U.S. officials said Thursday.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialThe 21st night of September is the Temu version of the April 25 "perfect date." Need a light jacket for both, though.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialReachable on Signal for encrypted news tips at danlamothe.30 Thank you!
@danlamothe.bsky.socialI keep turning back to the inspiring acts of that day and the love of that was in them. There is some comfort and an example for us there. Sometimes, that's all we get.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialI've refrained from posting anything of my own about 9/11 today until now. On this 25th anniversary, I've been at a loss for words, knowing everything that day brought. In violence. In chaos. In grief. In wars that followed and defined a generation.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialTrump said the top U.S. general was at the midterm convention. It’s not true.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE: Pentagon secretly installs military influencers in civilian government roles.
They include Rob Maness, Kurt Schlicter and Tom Anderson, better known as Cynical Publius.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialANOTHER WAPO SCOOP:
The Navy is considering a major redesign of its new aircraft carriers to better match President Donald Trump’s aesthetic preferences for the warships, according to seven current and former U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE: U.S. intelligence officials were skeptical of an Iranian assassination threat against President Donald Trump that was relayed by Israel and prompted an extraordinary clandestine maneuver that saw him secretly fly out of Turkey, officials said.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialThe New York Times reported late yesterday that among those who *remained* on the 747 that flew with the AF1 call sign (but no president) were Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Steven Cheung and Stephen Miller.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialSCOOP: People on the airport catering truck used to secretly move President Trump off an Air Force One 747 in Turkey included:
- Dan Scavino
- Walt Nauta
- Natalie Harp
No Cabinet-level officials were on that truck.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialHave seen a couple of reactions to this effect. But no. In this case, our reporting shows that President Trump was aboard a plane with a nondescript call sign, "Reach 18." The legacy Air Force One flew from Turkey to Britain with the AF1 call sign ... and no president.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE: Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat.
That's *neither* the Air Force One gifted by Qatar *nor* the legacy Air Force One jumbo jet.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialAnd so ends yet another week with no routine news briefing at the Pentagon. Despite an active conflict with Iran, there have been zero briefings since May 5.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialTransparency update: After repeated rounds of airstrikes on Iran over the last week, there's no sign of the Pentagon returning to news briefings that were occasionally held earlier in the war. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last briefed the public in a press conference at the Pentagon on May 5.
@danlamothe.bsky.socialTrump begins construction of unannounced White House helipad for Marine One helicopters:
