'This doesn't exonerate Hegseth': Veteran says impeachment will still happen despite failed attempt

WITH THE FUTURE OF OUR MEN AN. WOMEN IN UNIFORM ON THE LINE, LET'S BRING IN MSNOW PENTAGON. REPORTER PRIYA SHRIETHER, MSNOW CHIEF WHITE HOUSE REPORTER PAULA REED, CO-HOST OF THE. WEEKEND, JONATHAN CAPEHART, AND RETIRED Marine Corps. Lieutenant. Colonel Amy McGrath, you and I got to watch this. together. First, talk to me just a little bit. about what Veterans Day means to you, the solemnity of that occasion, and in contrast with what we heard. from the president. Well, Veterans Day is about those of us that put. on the uniform and signed the dotted line.

and said to Uncle Sam, you can send me anywhere in the world. and we'll defend this country. And in return, you know, veterans get some modest. benefits. from our country. And it's about the country coming together. and just saying thank you to veterans. So that's what it is for me. My. THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH, I MEAN, LOOK, HE CAN READ A SCRIPT AND I THINK FOR THE MOST. PART IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE EXCEPT.

FOR THE PARTS WHERE I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO. TELL US ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE YOU WANT. TO SUPPORT VETERANS, DEMAND THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED. STATES NOT SEND OUR TROOPS. into a war that doesn't have a strategy. Right, I mean, it was a few things that. were notable to me. One was the president describing. the Secretary of Defense, Hegseth, as loving the troops, protecting the troops, quote, he's all about you. And a line that we heard over and over again, today our country is stronger than ever before.

Is that your assessment? No, not at all. I mean, our economy is not doing great. This war that he started without DAMAGED, WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION, WITHOUT THE BACKING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WITHOUT THE BACKING OF OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS. WE HAVE A BASES THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED, OUR STOCKPILES ARE DEPLETED. I'VE TALKED TO MANY TROOPS WHO. ARE OVER THERE WHEN THIS WHOLE THING STARTED, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A BETTER POSITION NOW.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE STRONGER. JUST TAKE THE ALLIES AND PARTNERS PIECE. I MEAN, WE HAVE TURNED OUR BACKS ON SO MANY OF. OUR THAT DOESN'T MAKE US STRONGER. PRAYA, YOU HAVE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON MORALE, ON MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR. SERVICE MEMBERS DEPLOYED IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEIR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. PROMISED THEM THIS WAR WOULD BE WRAPPED UP WELL. BEFORE THIS HOLIDAY TODAY, YOU HEARD HIM TAKING A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THE. WAY HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS CARED FOR VETERANS.

IS THAT HOW VETERANS SEE IT? WELL, ALICIA, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS. THAT. WAS MOST NOTABLE TO ME IN PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO. HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED AND HE WENT THROUGH SORT OF ALL. THE WARS THAT THE U .S. MILITARY. HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN OVER THE. LAST SEVERAL DECADES TALKED. ABOUT HOW LONG THEY WERE, how many people died, and he was sort of trying to. compare that to the current situation in Iran. And he also falsely claimed that only 18 Americans have. died as a result. of the Iran We all know that that number is. closer to 23,

but this administration keeps trying to claim. that this war with Iran is over. and that people who have died as a result. of Iranian missiles passed a certain point. when that memorandum of understanding was signed, actually died in what they're calling overseas. operations and not Operation Epic Fury. I can tell you right now, Alicia talking to current. service members. and veterans, that it's just a very. strange time. in the military right now. Most of us who did raise our right hands, it was one of the greatest decisions.

of our lives. It was an honor to wear that uniform. and we're proud of our service. And I think a lot of people are. questioning that right now, given the decisions of this administration. being involved. in things like these boat strikes. that may have been a violation. of international law that may. have killed FISHERMEN, AND NOW BEING INVOLVED IN THIS. IRAN WAR WHERE SECRETARY. HEGSETH OF COURSE HAS BEEN ACCUSED. OF NOT DOING ENOUGH TO MINIMIZE. CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.

INSTANCES LIKE WE SAW WITH THE. MANAB GIRLS SCHOOL BOMBING. SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S A LOT. OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SORT. OF QUESTIONING THEIR SERVICE. YOU KNOW, IS IT WORTH IT? HOW DOES THE GENERAL American public look. at them. They want to be proud of what they're doing, and I think it's really difficult right now. when they're seeing the military utilized. in this way, and I haven't even talked about, by the way, the fact that the National. Guard is being. deployed to all THESE CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED. STATES IN SUCH AN UNPRESIDENTED WAY DURING. THIS.

ADMINISTRATION, ALICIA? IT WAS INTERESTING WATCHING THE SPEECH AND. THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT'S. TRIP TO ARLINGTON PAULA COMES JUST HOURS AFTER. HE'S NOT SURE HE CELEBRATED THE. FAILED IMPEACHMENT PUSH AGAINST HEGSATH. BUT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS JUST A DRY RUN. FOR THE HOUSE. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? YES, I CAN TELL YOU SPEAKING WITH SOURCES, FAMILIAR. DEMOCRATS WILL TRY TO IMPEACH HIM. AGAIN IN THE NEXT TERM. THEY ARE NOT SURE IF DEMOCRATS WOULD THEN, IF THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT VOTE.

MOVE TO A TRIAL OR JUST TRY to draw out. an investigation that would uncover. likely many embarrassing details. for the secretary. But I'm told no matter what happens. throughout this process, Hague says defense in this process. and in the court of public opinion will. be the president's job to present the president. with options and then he executes. whatever he is told by the commander-in-chief. Now, some critics have pointed out. that's effectively the Duremberg defense, right? Just following orders. But over the past few I'M TOLD BY MY SOURCES. THE GOAL OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS TO.

TAMP DOWN ANY SUGGESTIONS AND REPORTS ABOUT. INFIGHTING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY AND THE. PRESIDENT OR THE VICE PRESIDENT. THAT WAS ONE OF HEGS THUSS DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE. WHEN HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT. TWEET FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT. SAYING THE IRAN WAR IS THE REASON. THEY GOT SHELLACKED SO. BADLY IN THE MIDTERMS. HEGSETH WAS PRETTY. DEFERENTIAL. LATER IN THE DAY WE SAW THE VICE PRESIDENT, ALSO TWEETS SUPPORT FOR THE SECRETARY. DURING THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING. AND THEN OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT. SORT OF CELEBRATING. THAT THIS VOTE FAILED WRITING ON.

SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THIS QUOTE. FAILED MISERABLY NOTING THAT EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN. EXCEPT TO MASSEY, A MAJOR LOSER, VOTED IN FAVOR OF PETE. HE POINTS TO SO-CALLED VICTORIES. IN VENEZUELA AND IRAN AND RECRUITMENT. NUMBERS FOR THE REASONS VOTE FAILED, BUT OF COURSE WE KNOW THE REASON THIS VOTE FAILED. IS BECAUSE DEMOCRATS FAILED TO MOBILIZE ENOUGH. LAWMAKERS. GOING FORWARD, MY SOURCES TELL ME THERE'S. NO INDICATION. THAT HEGSETH'S JOB IS IN DANGER, PARTIALLY THAT'S BECAUSE IT WOULD BE.

VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A REPLACEMENT THROUGH VERY. QUICKLY BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION. BELIEVES THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A SECRETARY. WHO WOULD BE MORE LOYAL OR Fawning. OVER THE PRESIDENT THAN SECRETARY HEGSATH. THAT LAST PART IS ESPECIALLY. INTERESTING WHEN YOU HEAR WHAT. THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING IN. CONTRAST TO WHAT WE ARE HEARING. FROM VETERANS. OUR COLLEAGUE ALEX TABBIT SPOKE. TO A BUNCH OF VETERANS. ABOUT HEGSETH THIS MORNING AT A. MARCH IN WASHINGTON, D .C. TAKE A LISTEN.

HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE. WEARING THE UNIFORM. HE REPRESENTS HIMSELF. HE REPRESENTS HIS PRESIDENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT PETE HEGSETH UNDERSTANDS. THAT HIS TIME IS LIMITED. MAYBE HE DIDN'T GET IMPEACHED TODAY. TOMORROW, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE. VETERANS' DEMOCRACY MARCH ON THE. CAPITOL AND THERE'S GOING TO BE. THOUSANDS OF US MARCHING FOR THAT REASON. AND SO HE'S GOING TO HEAR FROM FORMER SERVICE. MEMBERS AND POTENTIALLY EVEN ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE. MEMBERS IF THEY'RE JOINING US,

HE'S GOING TO GET THE MESSAGE THAT WE WHO. HAVE SERVED ARE NOT BEHIND HIM. YOU AND I WERE ON SET ABOUT AN HOUR. BEFORE THAT VOTE ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE. YOU WERE VERY CLEAR-EYED ABOUT WHERE THAT VOTE. WAS HEADED STILL TO WATCH HOW IT WENT DOWN. WHAT DID THAT SAY TO YOU? WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AN EXONERATION. OF PETE HEGSETH. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A REPUBLICAN-LED. CONGRESS COMING. UP SOME 10 VOTES SHORT OR SOMETHING BECAUSE.

THE CONGRESS WILL HOLD PETE HEGSETH ACCOUNTABLE. THERE'S GOING TO BE INVESTIGATIONS ON. EVERYTHING AND THAT IS THE MOST. IMPORTANT THING. THERE'S GOING TO BE INVESTIGATIONS ON. impeachment, making no mention, of course, that it was a Republican. who was. behind that effort. Help me understand just politically,

because this is what I kept thinking. about last night. What do Trump and the GOP get out. of ignoring the growing opposition to. Hegsteth inside their own party, inside their own movement? What it was that voters told them last Tuesday? Well, I mean, Alicia, it's incredibly frustrating. that we a week ago, WE SAW THE RESULTS COME OUT FROM THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS AND A WHOLE LOT OF.

REPUBLICANS DON'T LIKE THE. DIRECTION THE COUNTRY IS GOING in, and especially when it comes to this war. That statement from the RNC just tells me that. they are in lockstep with the president, that they are going to ignore. THE MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO RALLY AROUND THE PRESIDENT, THEY'RE GOING TO RALLY AROUND THE SECRETARY OF. DEFENSE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DECISIONS. THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OVER. OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE WHITE.

HOUSE AND. CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE. GOING TO IGNORE WHAT HAPPENED. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE STEPHEN MILLER BEING. APPOINTED THE NEW WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF. THAT'S WHY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MADE CONGRESSMAN JIM. JORDAN THERE THE MINORITY LEADER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND NOW you have this. statement, you have this statement from the RNC. And so we should expect when.

the 120th Congress is seated to have. the posture of the White House to not be one. of conciliation, to be not one of trying to address. the concerns of the American people. It is going to be one of combat.