What happened
President Donald Trump said during an impromptu White House press conference that the war with Iran could be nearing its end. He stated that Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing capabilities had been reduced by approximately 85% and that the Iranian government was negotiating with the United States.
Trump declined to declare the conflict over, saying Iran’s remaining capabilities still threaten regional allies and that the administration wants to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear program. He warned that U.S. forces are prepared to resume operations if negotiations fail.
The president also defended Secretary of War Pete Hegseth against an impeachment resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). The resolution accuses Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors related to the Iran war, military operations in Yemen and the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and Pentagon scrutiny of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Trump dismissed Massie as a “stone cold loser” and credited Hegseth with overseeing victories in Iran and Venezuela.
Trump said Hegseth had helped reverse a military recruitment crisis, claiming the armed services now have their strongest recruiting numbers in history. Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as a political stunt and said he was not concerned about having enough Republican support to defeat it.
