From Hegseth, whose removal is being called for, a defense of the Iran war: We will not back down

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran, calling it a “bold and historic undertaking” aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, after Republican midterm losses intensified calls for his removal. Hegseth said he would not back down from the agenda, framing the Iran operation as central to President Donald Trump’s military priorities. The pushback comes as Hegseth faces mounting pressure over his tenure following the Republican electoral setback. The dispute matters because it tests whether the White House will keep its defense chief and sustain the Iran campaign amid political fallout. What to watch next is whether Republican criticism of Hegseth escalates into a formal removal effort and whether the administration adjusts its Iran posture.