Former Middle East ambassador says Trump should fire Hegseth
( NewsNation ) — Limited strikes targeting Iranian air defense systems on an island in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday marked the first such action since the midterm elections. The fallout from the midterms is placing increased scrutiny from both sides of the aisle on the war in Iran.
Former ambassador: Trump knows new strikes won't accomplish much
While President Donald Trump appears to be putting more effort into negotiating solutions with Iran, Ukraine, Russia and China, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey James Jeffrey said Trump knows additional strikes against Iran are not "going to accomplish all that much."
What options are on the table for Trump in Iran moving forward?
"I think he knows that," he said on "Morning in America." "It's no big thing. I do not think he's going to go for a major escalation."
Former ambassador: Hegseth should be fired by Trump, not impeached
Seven months into the war and days after Democrats swept the midterm elections, Trump and Vice President JD Vance have blamed American frustration over U.S. involvement in Iran for Republican losses.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has received much of the blame for the White House's handling of the war. Democrats plan to introduce articles of impeachment against several Trump administration officials, including Hegseth, unless they resign.
"It's not cause for impeachment," Jeffrey said. "What it is, is cause for him to be fired by President Trump. Somebody has to take the fall for the fact that it was Hegseth, more than anybody else on the American side, who said, 'We will defeat Iran and we'll surrender within weeks.' Well, that hasn't turned out."
Trump has consistently defended Hegseth and has not publicly indicated he is considering firing him.
'No idea' what Hegseth's strategy for Iran is: Rep. James Comer
"I think he's doing a very good job," Trump told reporters Wednesday.
In a statement provided to several media outlets, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the secretary is "100% committed" to remaining in the position through the end of Trump's term.
"Hegseth bears a lot of responsibility for what has Americans angry right now," Jeffrey said.
NewsNation's Jeff Arnold contributed to this report.
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