Hegseth Holds First Pentagon Presser in Six Months Amid Impeachment Threat

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held his first Pentagon press conference in about six months on Tuesday while Congress considers impeaching him over the Iran war and other alleged abuses of power. He used the briefing to mount a furious defense of his record and the administration’s military campaign against Iran.

Before Hegseth took the podium, a security agent warned journalists they could be physically removed if they failed to maintain decorum. Reporters asked whether shouting questions could lead to removal but received no answer.

Hegseth took questions exclusively from conservative news outlets, including One America News Network, Real America’s Voice, The Daily Wire, The Daily Signal, Fox News and The Washington Times. New York Times correspondent Helene Cooper and Washington Post reporter Tara Copp were present but were not called on.

Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson asked whether Hegseth agreed with Vice President JD Vance that the Iran war was a major reason Republicans lost the midterm elections. Hegseth said he respected the vice president and would not exchange finger-pointing, adding that politics is not really his thing.

Real America’s Voice reporter David Zere asked what message it sent to American allies when U.S. politicians criticized military operations targeting suspected drug traffickers. Hegseth welcomed the question and defended the campaign against cartels.

Pentagon political staffer Joel Valdez later offered to explain the rules only off the record. When reporters objected, Valdez walked away. No journalists were removed from the briefing room.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Pentagon for comment on the episode, which fits a broader pattern of press crackdowns under Hegseth.