Hegseth defends Iran war as Trump weighs his future after midterm losses
The defense secretary called the war 'courageous and historic' as Vice President JD Vance blamed it for the GOP defeat and Democrats called for his removal.
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the war in Iran on Thursday and vowed to keep fighting for the administration’s priorities, as President Donald Trump faced questions about whether to keep him after Republicans lost control of Congress.
In a video posted to social media, Hegseth called the war “a courageous and historic effort that will ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,” Federal News Network reported. He also listed what he called “sacred cow” policies his Pentagon has ended.
“Regardless of how people feel about the war,” Hegseth said, the military needs funding approved by Congress in the coming weeks to rebuild, as Trump did in his first term.
Vance blames the war
The video came a day after Vice President JD Vance publicly tied Tuesday’s losses to the conflict. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote on social media. “Any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.”
Vance’s remarks were striking because he has helped prosecute the war for the administration despite his past ties to the party’s anti-interventionist wing. They also raised questions about whether Trump would follow through on a threatened resumption of major combat operations against Iran.
Trump’s support
CBS News reported Wednesday that Trump has been asking advisers, in person and by phone, whether Hegseth should stay on. Other sources told the network that Trump has not decided to replace him. One source said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had been floated as a possible successor.
Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump said, “No, I think he’s doing a very good job.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the president has “full confidence” in Hegseth. A Hegseth spokesperson said the secretary is fully committed to leading the department through the end of Trump’s term.
Trump also praised the military’s operations. “In Iran, we are there for seven months and we control everything that we’ve wanted to control,” he said, according to Reuters.
Calls for his removal
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker in January, asked on social media, “Why is Pete Hegseth still around?”
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September. A House vote on the measure could come as soon as next week, The Washington Post reported.
Lawmakers in both parties have criticized Hegseth’s handling of the Iran war, which began more than eight months ago without congressional authorization. Critics have also targeted his firing of senior military officers, strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in Latin American waters and strained relations with Capitol Hill.
Budget fight ahead
The administration is seeking a $1.5 trillion defense budget. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said the budget and the annual defense policy bill are needed to finish the war and prevent a nuclear Iran, and that they require bipartisan support.
Supporters of the war argue it has degraded Iran’s missile and naval forces and prevented Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear program. Opponents point to its cost, the deaths of U.S. service members and the disruption of global oil supplies, which drove up gasoline prices before the election.
Democrats will gain majorities in both chambers in January, giving them subpoena power and control of the committees that oversee the Pentagon.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has been a polarizing figure, including within his own party.
