Hegseth Declares 'Pentagon Will Keep Negotiating With Bombs' - Trump Seeks To Assure War Ending 'Soon'

Hegseth's bomb-first diplomacy signals no pivot from the military-industrial playbook that's kept metals elevated since 2022. Iran's rejection of whatever deal was floated means we're stuck in this geopolitical gridlock that central banks have been hedging against with record gold purchases. Trump's 'soon' timeline for war endings sounds like campaign rhetoric when his defense pick is literally saying they'll negotiate with explosives. Physical demand stays strong when uncertainty rules. The dollar might flex on tough talk short-term, but sustained military posturing abroad while running massive deficits at home is the exact recipe that's driven sovereign buyers to diversify reserves into gold. Stack the dips.