Hegseth calls Iran war necessary, dismisses impeachment push as 'noise'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed an expected impeachment push as "noise" Monday, defending U.S. military actions against Iran, Yemen's Houthis, and Venezuela as necessary and historic. He announced a rare news conference Tuesday, his first in over 180 days, to address the threat. Hegseth faces anger after the Iran war and its economic impact contributed to severe Republican losses in the midterms, costing the party control of Congress. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has advanced an impeachment resolution, while Hegseth argued the war was needed to confront Iran's nuclear program, despite about 60% of voters calling the action a "wrong decision." Hegseth insisted "Iran is devastated" despite continued attacks on U.S. bases and shipping disruptions that raised energy prices. He deferred next steps to President Trump, who defended Hegseth, saying he was "guilty of winning two wars."