Hegseth Impeachment Push: Trump Defends Defense Chief After Midterm Defeats

President Donald Trump retained Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in their current roles on Thursday, rejecting media reports that both men would depart the administration. The decision came after Republicans lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the recent midterm elections.

The political shift intensified scrutiny of the leadership team. Party leaders cited the ongoing conflict with Iran, now in its ninth month, as a primary factor in the electoral loss. The White House and State Department officially labeled rumors of Rubio's exit as fake news. Rubio told The New York Times that he intended to serve through the end of Trump's term. He noted that he laughs at speculation about his departure because he is unsure which of his many jobs people are referencing.

Hegseth faced a more volatile reception. Trump and Vice President JD Vance had previously identified the handling of the Iran war as a central cause of the Republican defeat. Despite this, Trump told ABC News that he intended to keep Hegseth in his role. He later told reporters at the White House that the secretary's performance was fantastic. The president pointed to the January arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the continued prosecution of the war with Iran as key achievements under Hegseth's leadership.

Other military figures may face changes. The Washington Post reported that Trump is considering replacing General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command. Both leaders advised on the conflict that began eight months ago.

Pressure on Hegseth is also coming from within the Republican Party. Representative Thomas Massie announced that he would trigger an impeachment resolution as early as the following week. Massie told Politico that he wants to force a Senate vote before the new Democratic-controlled Congress convenes in January. He warned on the social platform X that the president should replace Hegseth while Republicans still hold the Senate to confirm a successor.

Hegseth responded with a video statement posted on X. He called the impeachment effort a sham driven by a defeated congressman and his Democratic allies. The defense secretary outlined how his department has fulfilled the America First agenda. He cited the revival of military recruitment, the rebuilding of the defense industrial base, and the reduction of diversity initiatives as proof of effectiveness. He stated that his team would not back down because they are doing the job.