Pete Hegseth has defended the Iran war as necessary and dismissed the push to impeach him as "noise", ahead of his Pentagon briefing today. Speaking to reporters on Monday 9 November, he said someone had to confront Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, AP reports.
"If you want to take issue with what we did in Epic Fury or Rough Rider or nabbing Nicolás Maduro, you're taking issue with the troops and what they accomplished, which is historic."
"My team, we're not worried about the noise," he added.
According to AP, Hegseth said the next steps are up to Trump. Those steps include telling Iran they are done and watching its nuclear material.
AP says the briefing will be his first Pentagon news conference in more than 180 days. CBS reports it is set for 08:00 ET (13:00 UK).
Thomas Massie's updated articles of impeachment accuse Hegseth of abusing his office by launching the Iran war without congressional approval, CBS reports. They also accuse him of ignoring laws meant to minimise civilian casualties and of retaliating against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, among other allegations.