IRAN WAR ANGER
Voter anger over the Iran war, which has settled into an effective stalemate focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz, helped Democrats win control of Congress in last week’s midterm elections.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries took aim at Hegseth ahead of the vote, saying on Monday: “Pete Hegseth has abused his power, undermined America’s national security, and he’s the architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran.”
But Hegseth repeatedly defended the conflict, calling Trump courageous and saying Iran’s military has been left in ruins. He also said his orders to US forces were lawful, despite Massie’s accusations of “high crimes and misdemeanours” ranging from the war itself to the US military raid in January to depose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“History will judge the Iran war quite differently than the conventional wisdom right now,” he said.
Trump repeated his backing of Hegseth in a post on his Truth Social platform just after the Pentagon briefing ended.
“Pete Hegseth gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defence against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!” he wrote.
