News · Press Release

Punchbowl News: “Hegseth to stump for Nunn as Iran war rages”

New York Times: “The event, on behalf of Representative Zach Nunn, who is facing a potentially competitive re-election race, comes as the secretary has signaled he expects more U.S. casualties in the broadening regional conflict.”
Punchbowl News and the New York Times report that Zach Nunn is advertising a “campaign event” with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following the deaths of six American service members, including a 20-year-old Sgt. from West Des Moines, “a move that’s drawing criticism amid the ongoing war in Iran.”

Punchbowl notes that “Nunn is billing the event as ‘a tribute to the brave men and women who wear the uniform and defend our freedom,’” yet the proceeds go towards Nunn’s joint fundraising committee. The New York Times reports that “those who pay $1,000 or $3,500 also gain admittance to a V.I.P. reception.”

DCCC Spokesperson Katie Smith:
“While Iowans mourn the six American service members killed in the Iran conflict, Zach Nunn advertises a fundraiser with Pete Hegseth to line his campaign’s pockets. A 20-year old from West Des Moines lost his life, and Nunn is fundraising for his campaign under the guise of supporting the troops instead of doing his job – callous and disqualifying.”Read more below:

Punchbowl News: Hegseth to stump for Nunn as Iran war rages

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to Iowa in two weeks for a campaign event with Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), a move that’s drawing criticism amid the ongoing war in Iran.
  • Nunn, one of the House’s most endangered Republicans, is hosting Hegseth in Ankeny, Iowa, for “Operation Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops.” Nunn is billing the event as “a tribute to the brave men and women who wear the uniform and defend our freedom.”
  • This is an unusual move for a defense secretary to make in the middle of an escalating conflict in the Middle East that has killed American servicemembers.
  • The Pentagon revealed the identities of four of the United States troops who were killed over the weekend in Kuwait. All of them were Army reservists assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, based out of Des Moines, Iowa. One of those service members — 20-year-old Sgt. Declan Coady — was a Des Moines resident.
  • The DCCC is criticizing Nunn for the event.
  • “A 20-year-old from West Des Moines lost his life, and Nunn is fundraising for his campaign under the guise of supporting the troops instead of doing his job – callous and disqualifying,” DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith said in a statement.

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