image copyrightGetty Images
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference at the Pentagon after a Republican congressman initiated impeachment proceedings against him.
He said the goal sought by "one disgruntled and defeated congressman" has nothing to do with accountability, referring to Congressman Thomas Massie, who on Monday initiated impeachment proceedings against him. Ego and resentment are behind it, Hegseth said.
“This is a farce and a PR stunt,” the Pentagon chief said, adding that no defense secretary has ever been impeached for conducting “legitimate military operations.”
“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” Hegseth said. In his opinion, the impeachment process gives US opponents a “propaganda victory.”
In his speech, Hegseth touched on familiar themes for the Trump administration: He said that U.S. military operations in Iran and against alleged drug traffickers have a legal basis, and that the Trump administration believes it has succeeded in ending “wokeism” in the U.S. military and improving its combat readiness.
In Trump's view, the war in Iran - as well as the military operation in Venezuela to overthrow Nicolas Maduro - was a complete success, and Hegseth expanded on this point of view.
The defense secretary listed recent military operations, calling Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, a historic military victory.
According to him, as a result of actions against the Iranian fleet, air force and nuclear bases, the Iranian armed forces are now “in ruins.”
End of Most Popular
This extension will help if you have difficulties accessing the BBC Russian Service website.
Download extension
End of story Chrome browser extension - link
The United States did not start this war — “Iran started it 47 years ago,” Hegseth said, adding that President Trump “did the decisive and right thing” for the “security and protection” of America.
The Defense Secretary also outlined the administration's argument that these operations did not require congressional approval, citing historical examples going back to the 1983 American intervention in Lebanon.
Hegseth said the media could never "acknowledge military success" because they "hate the president" more than they love the United States and its troops.
The government "will continue to do the job that the American people elected President Trump to do," the secretary said.
Hegseth also called American military personnel "the best of the best in our country" and promised to "always support them, no matter what happens." Addressing the military, he said: “Don’t pay attention to the hype, don’t doubt anything. It's all politics. You are doing the real thing. Keep it up!"
Asked if he agreed with Vice President J.D. Vance's comments that the war with Iran was one of the main reasons why Republicans lost the midterm elections, Hegseth said he respected Vance and would not engage in "recrimination."
“Fortunately, politics is not really my area, I deal with the affairs of the Ministry of Defense and make sure that we are prepared for any situation,” he said.
End of Subscribe to our social networks and newsletter
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is in Paris at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, in response to a request to comment on Hegseth’s statements about the legality of military actions against Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, said that the US President is the supreme commander in chief.
He stressed that Iran has been a threat to the United States since 1979, Maduro's arrest paved the way for a "better future" for Venezuela, and Hegseth "not only carried out a direct order from the Commander in Chief, charged and entrusted by our Constitution with the task of keeping America safe, but he did so very effectively."
President Donald Trump posted a message on his social network Truth Social in which he said that his Secretary of Defense deserves the highest praise.
"Pete Hegseth deserves an A PLUS PLUS PLUS for defending himself against disgruntled, angry, defeated former Congressman Thomas Massie - A COMPLETE LOSER!"
Trump spoke in much the same way the day before, calling Massie “a complete loser” who is “trying to initiate impeachment of perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the country.”
This is the first press conference of the Minister of Defense in six months. Before it began, members of the press gathered in the Pentagon briefing room were warned by a uniformed officer that they would be kicked out if they did not “conduct themselves in a professional manner.”
Download the new BBC World Service app!
When you first open the app, select "BBC News Russian Service" and receive notifications about important news, analysis, videos and podcasts.
Important: The new app is not available in the UK and US.
Find out more
Video playlist
End Video playlist
