Ernst asks if Hegseth ‘being truthful in the way the war is going’

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) questioned on Tuesday whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is “being truthful” in sharing how the war against Iran is going as Vice President Vance has pointed to the conflict in the Middle Eas t as being the culprit for Republican losses in the midterm elections.

“Well, I just want to make sure that the right information is flowing from the Pentagon to the president,” Ernst, who served over two decades in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Iowa Army National Guard, told reporters on Tuesday.

“Is he being truthful in the way the war is going? We saw Iowans absolutely reject the war in Iran and the cost that it’s causing on American families and their pocketbooks,” the retiring senator said.

Ernst’s comments come as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) rolled out eight articles of impeachment on Monday against Hegseth, accusing the defense secretary of being in violation of the Constitution and other laws during U.S. military operations in Iran, Venezuela, Yemen and the Caribbean.

President Trump, Vance and other administration officials have stood behind Hegseth, who called Massie “one disgruntled and defeated congressman” who is following “a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment.”

During a rare Pentagon press conference Tuesday morning, Hegseth accused the Kentucky Republican of attempting to “do damage to this president, this country, and most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it” in his final days in Congress.

“It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it,” Hegseth told reporters. “In the 250 years of our American republic, no secretary of war or secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations, and in our case, successful ones at that.”

Ernst, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a pivotal vote to confirm Hegseth last year after initially expressing reservations over his allegations of misconduct.

The Iowa senator has privately expressed frustration with Hegseth over firing the Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George and other senior military leaders. Ernst and other Republicans have voiced dissatisfaction over what they deem as a lack of transparency from the Pentagon.

“If there is deception coming from our Pentagon and being transmitted to the president, I would want to know that,” Ernst said on Tuesday, adding, “Will that be part of this impeachment? I don’t know. But I have some serious questions.”