Updated

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a video message on Thursday, 5 November 2026, vowing to fight efforts in Congress to impeach him. He called the Iran war courageous and historic, even after voters punished Republicans over it in the midterm elections. Reuters analysis said Trump's party's losses have left him diminished in Washington and facing tougher legislative oversight, but he retains broad latitude on foreign policy, including on Iran and Israel. Trump swatted away questions about whether he might fire Hegseth.