Pete Hegseth Trouble: Trump Defends Him as Impeachment Looms
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces pressure from Republicans and a threatened impeachment vote after the GOP’s midterm losses, which President Donald Trump…
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing impeachment pressure after Republican losses in this week’s midterm elections, while President Donald Trump says he intends to keep him. The backlash has focused on Hegseth’s support for the Iran war, which Trump and Vice President JD Vance have blamed for the election defeat.
The dispute could soon reach Congress. Republican Representative Thomas Massie said he plans to push for a House vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth as early as next week.
Trump has publicly stood by his defense secretary, despite reports of private uncertainty inside his administration. In a telephone interview, Trump said he had received “calls about” Hegseth but had “every intention” of keeping him.
On Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House that Hegseth had done a “fantastic job.” He cited the Iran war and the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro among the secretary’s achievements.
Hegseth answered the criticism with a video posted to his X account. He defended his record and attacked the impeachment effort, saying, “You see, they attack me. They attack us because we are effective.”
He also accused opponents of pursuing “the politics of personal destruction” and vowed, “We will not back down.” The video came as Republicans debate the political consequences of the war and who should take responsibility for the party’s losses.
Why is Hegseth facing impeachment pressure?
Massie says he will push for impeachment, citing alleged violations of the War Powers Resolution, bypassing Congress on war declarations and unlawful military actions in several countries. He introduced articles of impeachment in September, but a House vote was delayed after Speaker Mike Johnson canceled the final scheduled voting day before the midterm recess.
Massie wrote on X that he would not reintroduce the articles if Hegseth resigned. The threat has added to calls from some Republicans for the defense secretary to leave his post.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina who previously voted to confirm Hegseth, said the secretary faces “a reckoning.” Tillis argued that Hegseth’s leadership has hurt the effort to secure funding and guarantees for defense, and said lawmakers should consider whether he is the right person to make the case to Congress.
The pressure carries practical consequences for the administration. Democrats are set to control both chambers of Congress next year, giving them the ability to hold hearings and investigate the administration, including Hegseth’s handling of the military. A fight over the Pentagon chief could also complicate Trump’s decisions on the Iran war, as the president weighs whether to escalate or pull back.
Trump has acknowledged that the war contributed to the Republican defeat. Vance was more direct, writing that “The reason we lost is the war.” Hegseth has been among the administration’s most visible advocates for the conflict, which the United States and Israel began in February and which has driven oil prices higher.
Trump has also been asked whether Hegseth might pursue a Senate seat in Tennessee. He said he had not heard that Hegseth was seeking the seat and described him as potentially popular, while maintaining that he was doing a very good job at the Pentagon.
The White House has denied rumors of a wider post-election shake-up involving Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But the impeachment threat remains active: Massie says he intends to press for a vote as soon as next week.
