Pete Hegseth: Defense Minister defends Iran war and clings to office
Defense Minister vehemently defends military operation and fends off impeachment allegations
Quick Look
- President Trump defends his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Republican defeat in the midterm elections and the war against Iran.
- Hegseth described the operation as “courageous and historic” and rejected impeachment.
- Trump said Hegseth was doing a very good job, but insiders spoke of a possible replacement.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
After the Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections, the conservative party is looking for someone to blame. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is criticized but vehemently defends the war against Iran. Trump has so far supported his minister, but insiders spoke of a possible replacement.
Donald Trump has already made it very clear: he - unsurprisingly - does not see himself as responsible for his party's defeat in the midterm elections this week. But where can the guilt be unloaded?
Quite a few in the conservative party have targeted Defense Minister Pete Hegseth. He has now vehemently defended the war against Iran and shown himself to be combative against the threat of impeachment.
In a video message published on Thursday (local time), he described the military operation as "courageous and historic." In the four-minute clip, Hegseth said: “They are attacking me and us because we are so effective. That won't work. We will not give in." Speculation about impeachment was only aimed at "personal destruction," said Hegseth: "That didn't work against President Trump. And it won’t work against me.”
US President Trump has so far supported his minister and recently stated that he had done a fantastic job. When asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."
However, insiders said Trump could replace Hegseth. “Hegseth could be on the hit list,” said a Trump adviser. "Someone will be held responsible for the election defeat, and you know it won't be Trump." Hegseth is considered a key supporter of the war against Iran.
The question is also what will happen next in the deadlocked Iran conflict. Trump wants to decide soon on a possible resumption of the war. The declared goal of his war, which began in February together with Israel, is to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb. “Do we want to go further” with the attacks so that “something like this will never happen again?” Trump told reporters at the White House.
"I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I have to," the president said, adding that that would become clear "soon enough."
The Americans have punished their president, the fight for his successor is beginning: Young stars are pushing forward among the Democrats, while Vice Vance is keeping their distance among the Republicans. How dangerous will Trump's final years in office be? The SPIEGEL cover story.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Trump will fire or replace Pete Hegseth.
Possible · Within weeks
Trump will decide whether to restart the war against Iran.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Trump actually fire Pete Hegseth?
- When will Trump decide whether to restart the war against Iran?
- How are the Democrats and their young stars developing after the midterms?
