6 in 10 voters say Iran war was the wrong call, Hegseth says
The defense chief defended the conflict as a bold move against fanatical Islamists while noting that only a third of voters cited it as a primary factor in their choice.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Monday that questioning the Iran conflict means questioning the troops and their historical achievements.
The remarks came as part of a defense of the military campaign known by the code names Epic Fury and Rough Rider. Hegseth described the war as a bold decision by President Trump to prevent fanatical Islamists from obtaining a nuclear bomb.
He contrasted the administration's actions with the alternative of inaction. "The choice was to not act and wish the problem away, or to take a bold step, as the president did with Midnight Hammer, and as we have done with Epic Fury," he said. Midnight Hammer refers to the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Hegseth made these comments after voters showed strong opposition to the conflict in the previous week's elections. Democrats have promised to open investigations into President Trump and senior administration members, including Attorney General Todd Blanche and Hegseth.
An AP survey of more than 100,000 U.S. voters found that roughly 6 out of 10 believe the United States made the wrong decision in launching military action against Iran. However, the survey indicated that the war was not the main issue for most voters. About one third said the conflict was crucial to their congressional vote. That number is much lower than the half who cited the cost of living or government corruption.
Hegseth is scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday. It will be his first in more than 180 days and will address the looming threat of impeachment.
