Hegseth Plans Rare Press Conference Tuesday as Impeachment Threat Grows/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a Tuesday press conference to address an expected impeachment resolution in Congress. He defended military operations in Iran and Venezuela as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie advances the impeachment effort over GOP leadership’s objections. The confrontation follows midterm elections in which about 6 in 10 voters said military action against Iran was the wrong decision.
Quick Look
- Rare appearance: Tuesday’s press conference would be Hegseth’s first in more than 180 days.
- Impeachment effort: Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is pushing the resolution despite opposition from House GOP leaders.
- War defense: Hegseth described Trump’s decision to attack Iran as a “bold move.”
- Military operations: He defended the administration’s actions in Iran and Venezuela.
- Voter opposition: About 6 in 10 voters opposed the decision to take military action against Iran.
- Election priorities: Living costs and government corruption ranked above the Iran war as crucial voting considerations.
Deep Look
Hegseth Announces Press Conference on Impeachment Threat
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to hold his first press conference in more than 180 days Tuesday as he confronts an expected impeachment resolution and mounting criticism of the administration’s military decisions.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Hegseth said he welcomed a debate over the policies he and President Donald Trump pursued in Iran and Venezuela.
“If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you’re taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic,” Hegseth said.
His remarks framed criticism of the administration’s operations as criticism of the military personnel who carried them out.
Massie Pushes Resolution Despite GOP Leadership Opposition
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has advanced the impeachment effort over objections from House Republican leadership.
The push comes as lawmakers return to Washington following sweeping Republican losses in the midterm elections. Many Republicans have identified the Iran war as a contributor to the party’s defeat.
The expected resolution would intensify congressional scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon. No impeachment outcome has been determined.
Defense Secretary Stands Behind Iran Operations
Hegseth defended the decision to launch military action against Iran, describing it as a necessary response to a nuclear threat.
He called Trump’s decision a “bold move,” adding that “as the president points out so clearly — you can’t let crazy Islamists have a nuclear bomb.”
“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,” Hegseth said.
Midnight Hammer refers to the strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, while Epic Fury refers to the broader war.
Poll Shows Opposition to War, With Other Issues Ranking Higher
Hegseth’s defense comes after an election that demonstrated widespread opposition to the conflict.
About 6 in 10 voters said the United States made the “wrong decision” by taking military action against Iran, according to The AP Voter Poll, a survey of more than 100,000 voters nationwide.
However, the findings also indicated that the war was not the leading concern for most voters.
Only about one-third described the Iran conflict as “crucial” to their congressional vote. Roughly half said the same about the cost of living or government corruption, underscoring the broader range of concerns behind the election results.
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