Massie has filed eight impeachment accusations as Democrats promise oversight
Pete Hegseth may take the blame for Republican midterm losses despite President Donald Trump’s continued public backing. The Iran war was named by voters and Trump as a key reason for the losses, and Hegseth now faces questions from members of his own party as well as promised Democratic oversight. A photograph published with the Guardian’s report showed Hegseth in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC on 30 October.
A former senior Pentagon official told CNN that the Iran war had been primarily a Department of War-led effort because Trump had chosen military action to resolve a foreign policy matter. A Republican close to the White House told CNN: “If the president is serious about anyone taking responsibility for it, it’s Pete Hegseth.” The Republican said: “Pete has been either dishonest or incorrect – neither of which are acceptable – about timelines, goals and objectives since the beginning.”
On Wednesday, JD Vance publicly questioned whether the Iran war was worth it and said it cost Republicans control of Congress. Trump, by contrast, has called Hegseth a champion of war and continued to defend his defense secretary.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has filed eight impeachment accusations against Hegseth and plans to soon force a House vote on them.
Asked on Wednesday whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump said Hegseth was “doing a very good job.” Trump has repeatedly defended the defense secretary and described him as a key proponent of the conflict, saying on 23 March: “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up, and you said: ‘Let’s do it, because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.’”
In a Wednesday statement to USA Today, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said: “The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first.” The statement came as criticism of Hegseth continued within the Republican Party.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis told CBS News on Tuesday night that Hegseth had “a reckoning” coming. Tillis said Hegseth’s strained relationship with lawmakers was undermining the Trump administration’s push for a $1.5tn defense spending package in Congress. He said that after the election Republicans needed to determine whether Hegseth was the best person to bring the Pentagon’s needs to Congress, noting that only 60 days remained before the current Congress ended.
Democrats have promised to investigate Hegseth and his handling of the Pentagon, and aides said the scrutiny could extend from the Iran war to his purges of top military officers, including the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hegseth could also face scrutiny over his Ukraine policy and U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in Latin American waters. Some Democrats say the strikes could amount to war crimes.
Adam Smith, the Democratic representative expected to lead the House Armed Services Committee next year, promised vigorous oversight on everything from the Iran war to what he called the erosion of the “apolitical foundation of the armed forces.”
The Guardian characterized Hegseth as a polarizing figure in American politics who had made enemies even within his own party. Trump has continued to defend him while Vance, Massie and Tillis have raised questions about the Iran war and his ability to advance the administration’s priorities in Congress.