Pentagon chief Hegseth calls US House impeachment effort a ‘farce’

During a news conference, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has condemned impeachment efforts against him as “sabotage”. “It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt,” he said on Tuesday, calling criticism of him and the war on Iran “policy disagreements”.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a resolution to impeach Hegseth on Monday over the war on Iran, strikes on purported drug boats and other alleged violations of US laws. The House of Representatives is likely to take an initial vote on the impeachment effort Tuesday, a procedural vote on whether to debate the impeachment resolution.

Speaking at his first news conference at the Pentagon in nearly six months, Hegseth defended his role in military actions ordered by President Trump. Hegseth compared military losses under his tenure with other historic conflicts, saying some 60,000 Americans were killed in the Vietnam War, and 37,000 in the Korean War, while only 18 had been lost during the US-Israel war against Iran.