- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faces an expected impeachment resolution in Congress and said he is eager to litigate the policy choices made with President Donald Trump in Iran and Venezuela.
- Hegseth defended the actions in Epic Fury, Rough Rider, and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, saying critics are "taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic."
- Hegseth announced he would hold a press conference on Tuesday — his first in over 180 days — on the looming impeachment threat.
- Republican Representative Thomas Massie has pushed the impeachment resolution forward despite House GOP leadership objections, as momentum grows to hold Hegseth accountable for the Iran war, which many Republicans blame for the party's midterm election wipeout.
- Hegseth argued that starting the war with Iran was a "bold move" by Trump, who pointed out that "you can't let crazy Islamists have a nuclear bomb."
- Hegseth described the choice as "don't act and wish it away or take a bold move," referring to the code names Midnight Hammer for the strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and Epic Fury for the larger war.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing an impeachment resolution in Congress, driven by Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who argues for accountability regarding the Iran war, which many blame for the GOP's midterm losses. Hegseth defended the administration's actions in Iran and Venezuela as 'historic'.
"If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolas Maduro, you're taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic," Hegseth stated during his announcement of a press briefing on the impeachment threat, his first in over 180 days.
Hegseth characterized the decision to engage in the Iran war as a 'bold move' by President Trump, emphasizing the necessity of action against potential nuclear threats. He stated, "The choice was don't act and wish it away or take a bold move, which the president did with Midnight Hammer, which we've done with Epic Fury," referring to military operations aimed at Iranian nuclear facilities.
As the impeachment resolution gains traction, Hegseth's defense of these military actions highlights the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party regarding foreign policy and accountability.
“Republican Rep. Thomas Massie pushed the resolution over House GOP leadership objections, citing Republican blame for the party's midterm wipeout. Hegseth argued the Iran war was a 'bold move' by Trump, referencing 'Midnight Hammer' and 'Epic Fury' as code names for the strikes.”
