Pete Hegseth has vowed to remain in Donald Trump’s administration despite impeachment threats and speculation that he could be dismissed after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the midterm elections.
The Secretary of War issued a defiant video address from outside the Department of War, declaring: “We don’t back down. And that especially applies now.”
“The next few months and years are critical for our department and our Republic,” he added.
Hegseth also defended the US war against Iran, describing it as a “historic and courageous effort”, regardless of “how people feel” about the conflict.
His intervention came as Republicans searched for someone to blame for the election defeat, which handed Democrats control of Congress. Hegseth has emerged as a leading target, with claims that the Iran war contributed significantly to the party’s losses.
He accused Democrats of being “obsessed” with pursuing a personal vendetta against him and calling for his impeachment, but insisted their efforts “won’t work” against him.
Trump says he intends to keep Hegseth
Donald Trump has denied that he plans to remove Hegseth, although he acknowledged that the Pentagon chief had critics within his circle.
“I get these calls, you know, about him. I don’t understand why,” Mr Trump told ABC News. He later said he had “every intention to keep him”.
White House insiders have claimed that Mr Trump had been speaking to close advisers about whether Hegseth should remain in office. A senior Republican was quoted as saying: “Trump is making phone calls, contemplating it.”
Mr Trump has also acknowledged that confirming a new defence secretary would be easier before Democrats take control of the Senate in January.
Republican sources alleged that the president was encouraging Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn to appoint Hegseth to her Senate seat. Under that proposal, Governor Bill Lee could appoint Hegseth if Ms Blackburn resigned, potentially giving the administration time to confirm a replacement at the Pentagon before the new year.
Hegseth is facing two potential impeachment efforts. Anti-Trump Republican Thomas Massie is expected to try to force a vote in the House, while incoming Democrats are expected to gain subpoena power.
The case being discussed by Hegseth’s critics is not solely the decision to launch the Iran war, but what Mr Trump was told about the operation. One source alleged that the president repeatedly learned of important developments in the Persian Gulf only after they had happened.
Vice President JD Vance has publicly linked the conflict to the Republican defeat. In a statement posted on X, he wrote: “The reason we lost is the war,” citing polling on Trump voters who switched their support to Democrats.
Mr Trump broadly agreed that the war had contributed to the result, saying it had driven up petrol prices, but refused to say the decision had been a mistake.
“I think it’s largely true because it drove the gasoline up… but at the same time if I had it to do again, I’d have to do it again,” he said.
