Research/Study Research/Study

Sean Hannity’s 180 on ground forces in Iran: from “no boots on the ground” to “I can see two scenarios where there might be a necessity”

The Fox host’s claims about ground troops have flip-flopped since the war began

Written by Isabella Corrao

Research contributions from Jane Lee

Published

During the U.S. military’s buildup in the Middle East and its first few days of strikes in Operation Epic Fury, Fox News host Sean Hannity was vehemently against deploying U.S. forces on the ground in Iran, repeatedly claiming that doing so would violate “the Trump doctrine.” Yet less than one week into the war, as President Donald Trump began to express interest in putting “boots on the ground,” Hannity shifted the goalposts, suggesting scenarios in which ground troops would be useful in Iran — amid growing reports that U.S. forces are preparing for an invasion.

Jump to Section

  • In the lead-up to the Iran war, Hannity stressed that “the Trump doctrine” means not putting “boots on the ground”

    • On his radio show, Hannity said: “What's the Trump doctrine? No boots on the ground, no forever wars, but that doesn't mean isolationism, and that means the strategic use of the U.S. military when necessary to advance American causes and American beliefs, and American interests — America first.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 2/17/26]
    • Hannity: “He’s sticking by his principal of no forever war, peace through strength, no boots on the ground, and that does not in any way, shape, manner, or form mean that the president is against using military force when it is in the best national long-term security interest of the United States.” He declared: “I support this doctrine completely.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 2/19/26]
    • Speaking with then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), now Trump’s secretary of homeland security, Hannity claimed U.S. military action in Iran is “at work within Trump's doctrine, no forever wars, no boots on the ground.” [Fox News, Hannity, 2/23/26]
    • Back on his radio show, Hannity again declared military action against Iran is “in keeping with the Trump doctrine” of “no forever wars, no boots on the ground.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 2/27/26]
    • Hannity: “Whatever he does do I believe will be consistent with the Trump doctrine of no forever war, and no forever wars, period, and no boots on the ground, period.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 2/27/26]
    • Hannity: “The president's right also to not put boots on the ground.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 2/27/26]
    • Hannity: “The Trump doctrine is basic, understandable, simple, and it works. No boots on the ground, no forever wars.” [Fox News, Hannity, 2/27/26]
    • Hannity proclaimed the Trump doctrine includes “no forever wars” and “no boots on the ground.” [Fox News, Hannity, 2/27/26]

  • As the conflict began, Hannity explicitly stated “there's not going to be boots on the ground”

    • Sean Hannity promised his audience that an American deployment to Iran is “never going to happen under Donald Trump. I'm telling you right now. Won't happen.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/2/26]
    • Hannity declared: “There's not going to be boots on the ground. It's not going to be an endless war.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/3/26]
    • Hannity: “There are still idiots out there that actually think Donald Trump is going to put boots on the ground. He's not.” He added, “They've left open the door, the possibility if there is a remote situation that might need a strategic placement, that door is definitely open.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/3/26]
    • Hannity asserted that the Trump administration is “not sending troops on the ground, but military technology is advanced. We don't need to.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/4/26]
    • Hannity: “President Trump's been pretty clear [that there’s] not going to be a ground war. They don't need to put boots on the ground.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/6/26]

  • Less than one week into the war, Hannity gave in to the possibility of Trump putting “boots on the ground” in Iran

    • Hannity claimed the Trump administration has “left open the possibility with great hesitation” of putting boots on the ground in Iran, but “that is not part of Donald Trump's plan in keeping with the Trump doctrine.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/4/26]
    • Speaking with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Hannity said the Trump administration has to “leave that option open” for putting boots on the ground in Iran, “just in case.” [Fox News, Hannity, 3/4/26]
    • Hannity again noted that the Trump administration has “left the door open” for deploying troops in Iran “just in case there might be a specific operation,” but there will be “no serious ground forces — it is not going to be a ground war in Iran, that’s not going to happen.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/5/26]
    • Hannity: “The only thing that I think that scares anybody, but it's not part of the Trump doctrine, are boots on the ground. Now, they had to leave the door open.” He emphasized: “You can never ever close that door.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/5/26]
    • Hannity said the Trump administration “can't exclude” boots on the ground “for strategic reasons.” He added, “I would imagine Americans are going to be on the ground in Iran helping them extract their oil and get their economy back in place, but I’m pretty certain also that the U.S. will insist that they pay for their own liberation.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/6/26]
    • Hannity again claimed “there will be boots on the ground, and they're going to be people that are there to get up and running the oil industry in Iran … for the purpose of helping the Iranian people survive and for the purpose of hopefully paying back the United States the cost of their liberation.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/6/26]
    • Hannity: “Can I see Americans on the ground helping the Iranians build back their oil manufacturing capabilities soon? Yeah, I can. Maybe protected by a small force? Maybe. Yeah, a lot has to happen.” The host added that Trump “doesn’t want to put handcuffs on himself,” so “he’s leaving open the possibility” of sending ground troops to Iran. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/9/26]
    • Hannity claimed “an exception” to “the Trump doctrine” of no boots on the ground: “We might have a situation where we have to make sure that the uranium that's in Iran does not end up in the wrong hands.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/11/26]
    • Hannity: “There may be one strategic reason that Donald Trump might need” to send in ground troops. He added, “In keeping with the Trump doctrine, I know the president wants to be as consistent as he can be. But why go all this way and then not finish that part of the job if he deems it necessary?” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/13/26]
    • Hannity: “He's holding out the possibility, I think probably because if they do need to rescue the 60% enriched uranium, that they might take an effort on the ground that would be small in scope and quick and fast.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/16/26]
    • Speaking with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Hannity claimed: “I can see two scenarios where there might be a necessity for some boots on the ground. And I know that goes against the Trump doctrine.” He continued: “If there is a risk that the 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, which can be turned into weapons-grade 90% enrichment in just seven to 10 days, if there is a chance that could fall into the wrong hands, I could see American involvement at a deeper level. Also, the question of Kharg Island, which is the lifeblood of the entire Iranian economy.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Sean Hannity Show, 3/20/26]