Pete Hegseth vows to fight impeachment calls following Republican midterm losses

United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth released a video message on Thursday, November 5, vowing to fight efforts in Congress to impeach him. France 24, CNN, the Daily Mail, and the New York Post all reported on the video and the growing impeachment threats against him. France 24 reported that Hegseth defended the war in Iran in his video, calling the conflict courageous and historic. [1][3][4][5]

The threat of impeachment follows the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3. The Daily Mail reported that United States President Donald Trump acknowledged voters disagreed with the war in Iran, which was largely orchestrated by Hegseth. Deutsche Welle reported that high energy prices drove voters toward Democrats, leading Republicans to trade blame for their election losses. [1][3][6]

thejournal.ie reported that victorious Democrats plan to target Hegseth in Congress, while Republicans blame the Iran war he supported for their electoral defeat. The Egypt Independent also reported that Republicans quickly turned against Hegseth following the election results. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Hegseth has faced mounting pressure from fellow Republicans to step down, though Donald Trump previously stated that Hegseth was doing a very good job. [2][7][13]

Hegseth is a former Fox News co-host and National Guard officer who has served as the 29th United States secretary of defense since taking office in early 2025. thejournal.ie reported that he has survived repeated scandals during his tenure. [2][12]

The New Post reported that Hegseth has urged Congress to provide funding for the Department of War, even as discussions continue regarding his potential impeachment and future in the administration. [3][5]