U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he is ready to “litigate” the military actions taken against Iran and other targets as Congress weighs an impeachment push.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed expectations of an impeachment vote in Congress on Monday, saying he is eager to defend the military actions he and President Donald Trump took against Iran, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Venezuela’s previous leadership.
Speaking to reporters after a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, Hegseth referenced the military code names for the Iran war and the campaign of strikes intended to halt the Houthis’ attacks on shipping. He said that if lawmakers want to “take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro,” it is “taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic.”
Hegseth also said he would hold a rare news conference on Tuesday—his first in over 180 days—on the impeachment threat. His last briefing was in May, and he has not held one on the Iran war, strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats or other U.S. military actions since then.
He pushed back against the impeachment momentum, telling reporters that “there’s a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success.” He added, “if we want to litigate the military actions that the Trump administration has taken, I’m happy to do it all day long,” and said to his “team” and the troops, “we’re not worried about the noise.”
Hegseth argued the Iran war was necessary because “someone had to confront the Iranian regime’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon,” saying “the choice was don’t act and wish it away or take a bold move.” He noted that Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.
The Pentagon chief reiterated that “Iran is devastated,” despite the Islamic Republic continuing to strike bases in the Middle East used by the United States and causing damage, as well as striking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He pointed to disruptions to shipping there and said that higher energy prices have affected voters’ pocketbooks.
Hegseth said next steps on the war are up to Trump, including telling Iran, “Hey, we’re done, and we’re going to watch your nuclear material. You better not move it.”
His remarks come amid political pressure on the Pentagon chief following the Iran war and its economic impact, which contributed to severe Republican losses in the midterm elections that cost the party control of Congress. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has advanced an impeachment resolution over House GOP leadership objections, as momentum has grown to hold Hegseth accountable for the conflict.
Asked about Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for massive GOP election losses, Hegseth said Trump would “do it again” and that “I agree.” He also echoed a line attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “It doesn’t have to be necessarily popular, but it can be necessary.”
According to the AP Voter Poll, about 6 in 10 voters in the United States said the U.S. made the “wrong decision” by taking military action against Iran. Hegseth has also been posting on social media about impeachment, and multiple Pentagon political appointees have shared images with “Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic,” as the White House posted a video featuring praise from Trump.
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