Europe Asia News

The Rapid Response account affiliated with the US Department of Defense released footage featuring statements by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth said President Donald Trump had brought a leadership approach to the Department of Defense that it had not experienced in a generation, describing Trump as "a president with the courage to lead and the determination to win."

Emphasizing his support for the military operations being carried out, Hegseth said, "I stand behind every single one of these operations. I was proud to carry them out, and I can't wait to do them again tomorrow."

Commenting on Iran, Hegseth said, "We didn't start this war; Iran started it 47 years ago." Hegseth argued that Trump was prepared to take a step that other presidents would not have dared to take, saying the decision was made for the safety of the American people.

Hegseth described Trump's approach by saying, "That's leadership. He didn't just get the ball rolling; he knocked their teeth out."

Hegseth also claimed that an initiative led by a member of Congress had nothing to do with oversight or accountability. He characterized the initiative as "a political spectacle and a personal manifesto fueled by ego and anger."