Hegseth Urges U.S. Congress to Approve Defense Budget
U.S. Defense Secretary calls for $350 billion funding to counter Iran
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Washington, Nov 5 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urged Congress on Thursday to pass his department’s budget, affirming that he would not back down and insisting “more than ever” on continuing the department’s course, following the Democrats’ landslide victory in yesterday’s midterm elections and growing calls for his resignation or impeachment.
In a video posted on the social media platform X, Hegseth said, “We are not backing down. This is especially true right now.” He added, “We must continue – as President Donald Trump did in his first term – to rebuild our military. This requires funding, as the Department of Defense must be provided with the necessary resources to confront current challenges. This includes a long-term strategic investment – an appropriations bill of no less than $350 billion – to ensure the department’s superiority and our nation’s dominance in a dangerous world.” He stressed, “We need every vote from every member of Congress to approve the required budget.”
He continued, “The coming months and years are of vital importance to our department and to our republic. This is about President Trump’s agenda (America First) and our department’s agenda, which is based on (peace through strength).” He reiterated that “when we say Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, we mean it. We will do everything necessary to ensure that under President Trump’s leadership.” He clarified, “Regardless of people’s views on this war, I believe it is a brave and historic effort that will ensure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon.”
Hegseth said, “They are attacking me and us because we are achieving tangible results, but their efforts will be in vain.” He affirmed, “We will not back down. We put America and our fighters first. This struggle will continue during Congress’s lame-duck period, especially regarding our historic and crucial budget.” He noted that “(peace through strength) has once again become a cornerstone of U.S. military policy, and this is what the Commander-in-Chief is asking for, and we are implementing it. This is not about me personally.”
Regarding Republican Representative Thomas Massie’s statement that he would bring an impeachment vote to the floor, Hegseth said, “A defeated and angry member of Congress – in collaboration with his Democratic allies – has introduced false articles for my impeachment, just as they tried to do with President Trump twice.” He emphasized, “Their policies have failed, so their obsession with political posturing – disguised as the exercise of power – drives them to try to destroy their opponents. It is a politics of personal destruction. They did not succeed with President Trump, and they will not succeed with me. Be assured of that.”
He added, “I assure you that we have only just begun our fight. Today, we are more determined and resolute than ever to complete what we have started. We will stand firm, we will fight, and we will defend this republic against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.”
Earlier on Thursday, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has clashed with his party over the past year, stated that his call for the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was “a milder version of what will happen when Democrats take control of Congress, as they will hold hearings and trials.” In an interview with CNN, he said he intended to call for a vote to impeach Hegseth, following a post on X in which he wrote that “there is only one scenario in which I would not reintroduce articles of impeachment: if Hegseth resigns.”
The debate over Higginbotham comes in the wake of the Democrats’ sweeping victory in the midterm elections, winning control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and achieving historic gains in key states such as Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and others. (End) R.S.R. / H.S.S.
