President Donald Trump on Thursday warned congressional Democrats against pursuing impeachment against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth if they win control of the House in next week’s midterm elections.
In remarks to reporters ahead of a South Carolina rally, Trump stated, ‘All they do is they talk about impeaching everybody.’ He added, ‘Honestly, if we wanted to play that game, we could play it just as well.’ Trump described Hegseth as ‘a great warrior’ and ‘the best at his job in many, many years.’
The president’s comments follow recent statements from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who indicated that Democrats would hold Hegseth accountable if Republicans regain the House. Jeffries told MS NOW on Oct. 24 that his party would pressure Hegseth to leave the Trump administration, though he did not explicitly endorse impeachment. ‘Pete Hegseth needs to be pushed aside by the president, or we’re going to have to deal with that situation if he is not,’ Jeffries said, adding that Democrats would seek to ‘run him out of town.’
Hegseth’s Tenure Under Scrutiny
Hegseth’s leadership at the Department of Defense has faced growing criticism amid concerns over U.S. military strategy, particularly regarding the conflict in Iran. Analysts suggest that if Republicans lose control of Congress, Hegseth could become a scapegoat for broader strategic challenges. Polls cited by The Christian Science Monitor rank Hegseth among administration officials with notably low approval ratings.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised questions about U.S. vulnerabilities, including dwindling munitions stockpiles and the dismissal of experienced military leaders. Earlier this month, Trump reversed a widely criticized plan by Hegseth to livestream the public execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army major convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood attack.
Department of Defense Actions
The Department of Defense, referred to by the administration as the Department of War, confirmed it took action against an official for allegedly disclosing classified information. A spokesperson stated the department maintains ‘zero tolerance for the intentional, unauthorized disclosure of classified information.’ No further details were provided.
Impeachment Prospects and Timeline
An impeachment vote could be considered as early as Nov. 9, when the House reconvenes. While Jeffries did not commit to impeachment, he indicated Democrats would act ‘consistently with what [he has] said relative to Pete Hegseth from the very beginning,’ which includes calling for his removal by Trump.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) previously launched an impeachment effort against Hegseth last month, though its prospects remain uncertain. The White House has not publicly addressed the possibility of impeachment beyond Trump’s remarks on Thursday.