A Trump administration official has claimed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been misrepresenting the US position in its war with Iran in conversations with President Donald Trump.
The official, who spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity, stated that Hegseth's claims have led to the President repeating misleading information.
Some points of contention include Hegseth's claim that the United States has 'overwhelmingly destroyed' Iran's missile and drone program, which is reportedly not true, as over half of the country's missiles are still intact.
Additionally, Hegseth claimed that Iran has 'no air defenses' and could do 'nothing' about US air incursions, but President Trump confirmed during a White House news conference that a shoulder-fired 'heat-seeking missile' downed the F-15 that left two US airmen stranded inside Iranian territory.
Experts have stressed that the F-15's downing is what happens 'when you have air superiority but don't have air supremacy.'
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly dismissed the claims, stating that the President always knew the Iranians would shoot back, while Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell referred to scrutiny of Hegseth's public messaging as 'lies and propaganda.'
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) has called for Hegseth's impeachment, stating that he is complicit in Trump's 'devastating, illegal war' and has committed war crimes.
