WorldPosted at: Nov 5 2026 5:18PM


US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth facing mounting pressure from GOP following heavy losses in midterms

Washinton, Nov 5 (UNI) US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting pressure within the Trump administration following the Republicans' heavy losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, with concerns over the Iran war, deteriorating relations with Congress and the prospect of impeachment putting his position at risk.
A Trump adviser told Axios that Hegseth was "definitely on thin ice", although that did not necessarily mean the president would force him out. "But there are complications," the adviser added.
The House could move as early as next week to impeach Hegseth over allegations that he defied Congress and unlawfully continued the US military campaign against Iran. The measure is being sponsored by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a prominent critic of Israel and American military interventions overseas.
The Iran war has become central to both the impeachment efforts and the Republican electoral setback. Opposition to the conflict, combined with rising petrol prices following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has become a source of voter discontent.
Before Trump ordered strikes against Iran on February 28, Hegseth was among the administration's strongest advocates of military action and offered some of the most optimistic assessments of how quickly the conflict could be brought to an end, according to sources familiar with internal discussions.
Reportedly, however, the US Central Command had already begun seeking alternative ways by August to increase pressure on Tehran, suggesting military officials were reassessing how to achieve the administration's objectives.
The debate within the military also raised questions about when Hegseth recognised that the original strategy was unlikely to deliver the outcome he had anticipated, according to the sources.
Trump publicly backed his Defense secretary on Wednesday, telling reporters that Hegseth was "doing a very good job". However, the president has previously expressed support for Cabinet officials facing criticism before subsequently seeking their departure.
Four factors are weighing on Hegseth's position.
Democrats have previously attempted to impeach Hegseth, and their new House majority in January could intensify those efforts. The prospect of prolonged impeachment hearings would also bring renewed scrutiny of his tenure and the administration's decision to launch military operations against Iran.
An administration official told Axios that the Republican election performance would have been considerably different without the war.
"I believe you'll ultimately see POTUS hold Pete Hegseth accountable, and that will play out in the lame duck," the official said, referring to the period between the midterm elections and the start of the new Congress on January 3.
Historically, presidents in the US have responded to major midterm defeats by making changes to their administrations. Former President George W Bush, for example, removed his then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld following the Republicans' losses in the 2006 midterms.
Trump could similarly seek a high-profile departure to demonstrate accountability after the latest electoral setback. Hegseth, whose tenure has been marked by controversy, is among the potential targets.
"Somebody's gotta take the fall, and Pete is moving to the top of the list," a US official told Axios.
The period before the new Congress takes office could also influence Trump's decision. If Democrats take control of the Senate in January, confirming a replacement Defense secretary would become considerably more difficult.
"No one's getting confirmed" in the new Congress, a senior White House official said, adding that the administration was operating on that assumption.
This gives Trump a limited opportunity to nominate and secure approval for a new Pentagon chief while Republicans still control the Senate.
Another potential route for Hegseth could emerge in Tennessee, where Senator Marsha Blackburn is preparing to become governor. She will have the authority to appoint a replacement to her Senate seat, while Hegseth has a personal connection to the state through a home there.
Trump appeared receptive to the possibility when asked about it on Wednesday.
"I actually think he'd be very popular if he did that. But I haven't heard that at all," he said.
A spokesperson for Hegseth dismissed the impeachment threat and calls for his removal, saying the Defense secretary would not be deterred by what it described as partisan political manoeuvres.
"The Department of War has followed the law and our secretary will continue to stand and fight every single day to support and defend the Constitution, lead our troops, and protect America," the spokesperson said.
Hegseth has also been facing growing criticism from some Republican lawmakers, including members of the Senate who have privately urged the administration to remove him. However, even a Democratic majority of 55 seats would not be enough to secure his removal through an impeachment conviction, which requires a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate.
"There are some Republican chairs in the Senate who just hate Pete, but that isn't enough," an administration official said.
The pressure has also extended to questions over Hegseth's personal financial disclosures. Critics leaked details to Politico suggesting that a new disclosure report showed his wife had worked for a consulting firm with links to the Defense Department.
An ally of the secretary described the campaign against him as "an op". The Pentagon, meanwhile, said Hegseth was "in full compliance with all ethics laws and regulations", dismissing allegations to the contrary as "ridiculous slander".
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