WASHINGTON: US Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a video message on Thursday (Nov 5) vowing to struggle efforts in Congress to question him and defending the Iran struggle as “brave and historic” after voters punished Republicans over it on this week’s midterm elections.
Hegseth’s remarks, posted on social media, got here as taunts from his foes in Congress intensified and President Donald Trump swatted away questions on whether or not he would possibly fire Hegseth. Trump has counseled his Pentagon chief.
The highest Democrat within the Home of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, requested in a put up: “Why is Pete Hegseth nonetheless round?”
Hegseth, a former Fox Information host, has been a polarising determine who has made enemies even inside his personal Republican Social gathering. Critics in Congress are concentrating on his conduct of the Iran struggle, which Vice President JD Vance has stated price Republicans management of Congress, his firing of prime navy officers and strained relations with lawmakers because the administration seeks a US$1.5 trillion defence spending package deal.
Democrats, who gained management of Congress in Tuesday’s elections, have promised to analyze Hegseth and his dealing with of the Pentagon, and congressional aides say that would come with the firing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, amongst different points.
Republican Consultant Thomas Massie promised to reintroduce articles of impeachment in opposition to Hegseth subsequent week, warning that impeachment can be “a lot gentler” than what’s in retailer for him as soon as Republicans cede management of Congress subsequent 12 months to Democrats.
“They’ll have hearings & trials,” Massie wrote on X.
Hegseth defended his stewardship of the Pentagon in a greater than four-minute video that boasted about firing senior Pentagon leaders, ending range initiatives and banning transgender people from the navy.
“You see, they assault me – they assault us – as a result of we’re efficient. It is not going to work. We won’t again down,” Hegseth stated to the digicam.
Calling the impeachment effort a “sham,” Hegseth stated that Trump himself was impeached twice.
“It is all in regards to the politics of non-public destruction. It did not work in opposition to President Trump, and it will not work with me. You’ll be able to relaxation assured of that,” he stated.
Trump on Thursday praised Hegseth when requested whether or not he anticipated any staffing adjustments, saying his defence secretary had “performed a incredible job” and suggesting that the opposition to him was tied to his firing of generals.
“We had so many generals. All people was a four-star common. I by no means noticed something prefer it. And lots of of these individuals had been woke. I do not like a woke common. And so, he in all probability has opposition,” Trump instructed reporters within the Oval Workplace.
Trump additionally praised Hegseth’s function in US navy operations in Venezuela and Iran. “Venezuela has been unbelievable … and in Iran, we’re there for seven months and we management the whole lot that we have wished to regulate,” he stated.
