Reported by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez with AFP, Reuters Republicans in Washington continued to assess the damage on Thursday, after a resounding electoral defeat in the midterm elections two…
Reported by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez with AFP, Reuters Republicans in Washington continued to assess the damage on Thursday, after a resounding electoral defeat in the midterm elections two days prior saw Democrats take over Congress by large margins. Republican Party insiders told US outlets CNN and The Washington Post that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is feeling the heat over criticism that the war in Iran, which he supports, cost his party the elections.
Trump on Wednesday acknowledged that the Iran war affected the midterms, saying that voters were frustrated how the 8-month-long conflict has cause gas and diesel prices to skyrocket.
"The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it," Trump told reporters, but he ultimately defended the war effort and denied any plans to fire his defense secretary over it, saying Hegseth was "doing a very good job." But US Vice President JD Vance has sought to distance himself from the war, questioning whether it was worth the cost. "The reason we lost is the war," Vance said on X.
"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so." 'Knives out' at the Pentagon Hegseth has been a loud voice in Washington for the US attacking Iran, and has publicly chastised lawmakers and journalists for raising questions about the conflict's strategic objectives, cost and lack of congressional authorization.
The defense secretary has also been accused of not being forthright about the damage to US bases in the Middle East and the severity of troop casualties. He has also purged dozens of high ranking military officers, while denying promotions to others on dubious grounds. Hegseth was in hot water even before the Iran war.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from Abp News .