Pete Hegseth just dodged an impeachment attempt from inside his own party, but his position as Defence Secretary remains under intense pressure in Washington.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie led the push to oust Hegseth, accusing the Pentagon chief of waging an unauthorised war against Iran. House Republicans moved quickly to shield the defence secretary, shutting down the effort before it could gain traction on the floor.
Also read: US House Blocks Bid in Pete Hegseth Impeachment Effort
Thomas Massie targets Pete Hegseth over Iran
Massie argued that military actions against Iran lacked congressional approval and demanded Hegseth face removal. The rebellion highlighted growing conservative unease over foreign military engagements, yet party leaders rallied to kill the measure immediately.
Donald Trump continues to back the defence secretary publicly for now. Hegseth emerged to confront his critics directly, holding his first formal press conference in six months to dismiss the challenge.
He brushed off the impeachment push as nothing more than a “farce” and a political “stunt” designed to distract from the administration’s agenda.
Vance blames foreign conflict for midterm defeat
The political calculation around Hegseth is shifting quickly. While the current House majority shielded him, Democrats take control of Congress in January, giving them the committee gavels and subpoena power to launch fresh investigations.
Internal finger-pointing over the midterms has also reached the highest levels of the administration. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran for costing Republicans their congressional majority at the polls.
With senior figures openly connecting the conflict to voters’ backlash, Hegseth faces mounting scrutiny over how long the White House will defend his military strategy.
Trump calls Alaska Senate race ‘rigged’
The fallout from the midterm vote extends far beyond the Pentagon. Trump has launched fresh attacks on the integrity of the election results, pointing specifically to an undecided Senate contest in the Pacific Northwest.
The race between Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola remains unsettled. Trump has labelled the ongoing count in Alaska “rigged”, raising questions about how far he will go to contest certified outcomes.
All eyes now turn to January, when the newly elected Congress gavels in and decides whether to open formal hearings into Hegseth and the war.
Source: BBC
