After US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated that President Donald Trump's illegal war on Iran has cost $37.5 billion, critics pointed out the range of ways that money could have been better spent.

Donald Trump’s war is projected to cost much, much more.

The war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, according to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but the bill is likely much higher, experts have told CNN.

The Trump administration is pursuing what would amount to a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal 2027.

Latest estimate before that, in May, was $7.5bn lower