Hegseth Defies Calls to Resign as Trump Stands by Pentagon Chief

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is refusing to back down in the face of mounting impeachment threats following the Republican Party’s midterm election losses, accusing his opponents of attempting to destroy him politically as President Donald Trump publicly defended his leadership of the Pentagon.

In a defiant video posted Thursday on social media, Hegseth lashed out at Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has threatened to pursue impeachment proceedings unless the secretary voluntarily leaves office.

Hegseth charged that “a disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly.”

“Just like they tried against President Trump twice. You see, their policies don’t work, so their obsession with political theater disguised as power drives them to try to destroy their opponents. It’s all about the politics of personal destruction. Didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me. You can rest assured of that,” he added.

Massie has made clear that he intends to continue his effort to remove Hegseth. According to CNN, the Kentucky Republican is preparing to force a congressional vote on impeachment, leaving open only one possibility that would persuade him to abandon the initiative.

In a Wednesday social media post, Massie declared that “there is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns.”

The congressman followed up Thursday with a warning that his own impeachment proposal could prove relatively mild compared with the investigations Hegseth might face under Democratic control of Congress.

“My Hegseth impeachment resolution is a much gentler version of what’s coming when Dem’s control Congress. They’ll have hearings & trials.”

Democrats emerged from Tuesday’s elections with majorities in both the House and Senate, placing the Trump administration on course for considerably more aggressive congressional oversight when the new Congress convenes.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is expected to become the next House speaker, added his voice to the demands for Hegseth’s departure.

“Why is Pete Hegseth still around?” Jeffries wrote Thursday on X.

President Trump, however, showed no indication that he was preparing to dismiss his defense chief. Asked in the Oval Office about possible changes in Pentagon leadership, Trump offered an unequivocal endorsement.

“Pete Hegseth has done a fantastic job,” the president told reporters, according to The Hill.

The growing political pressure on Hegseth comes amid criticism of the administration’s handling of the war with Iran, which has emerged as a major issue in the aftermath of the Republican election defeat. Reports have identified public dissatisfaction with the conflict as an important factor in the party’s losses.

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the political consequences Wednesday, writing on social media, “The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,”

Vance pointed to polling of voters who backed Trump in 2024 but supported Democrats in the midterms. According to his assessment, those voters placed particular importance on ending the Iran conflict, controlling inflation, prioritizing American interests, and reconsidering Washington’s relationship with Israel.

Trump subsequently agreed that the war had carried a political cost, while maintaining that the military operation had achieved an essential national security objective.

“I thought it was good. I knew that when I went in. We stopped them from having a nuclear weapon, and they’ll never have a nuclear weapon,” the president said.

Massie’s impeachment effort could reach the House floor as soon as next week, before Democrats formally assume control of Congress in January. He plans to use a privileged resolution, a parliamentary procedure that can force lawmakers to address the measure within two legislative days, although Republican leaders could attempt to table it or send it to a committee.