Trump Says Hegseth Stays as Defense Secretary Despite Impeachment Push

In brief

• Trump says he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as defense secretary despite an impeachment push.
• Rep. Thomas Massie plans to reintroduce impeachment articles against Hegseth when the House returns on Monday.
• Hegseth dismissed the effort as a sham and a politics of personal destruction.
• Unofficial reports mention Ron DeSantis as a possible successor, but no replacement has been named.

Trump backs Hegseth despite pressure

President Donald Trump has said he has every intention of keeping Pete Hegseth as defense secretary (Trump Says He Has ‘Every Intention’ Of Keeping Hegseth As Defense Secretary – Forbes). In a phone call with ABC News correspondent Jon Karl, Trump said he fully intends to keep Hegseth in the post, and added that he has been receiving calls from people unhappy with the defense secretary („Dlaczego Pete Hegseth wciąż tu jest?”. Trump złożył deklarację – RMF24).

Massie's impeachment push

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his GOP primary after breaking with Trump, said on Wednesday he would introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth. He plans to force a vote as early as next week, when the House returns to Washington on Monday (Pete Hegseth strikes defiant tone in face of impeachment threat – NBCNews.com). Massie has also urged Trump to replace Hegseth while Republicans still hold a Senate majority.

Hegseth's response

Hegseth dismissed the effort in a social media video posted Thursday. He called the articles a sham, said the move mirrored earlier attempts against Trump, and framed the campaign as the politics of personal destruction. He touched only briefly on the Iran war, which has driven much of the impeachment effort, along with Republican losses in this week's midterm elections.

Possible successor and GOP divisions

CBS reported that Trump asked advisers on election night whether he should replace Hegseth. Some Republicans may support the impeachment resolution, according to RMF24. Trump has said that confirming a new secretary would be easier before Democrats take control of the Senate in January.

Read also

• Rep. Thomas Massie plans impeachment vote against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when Congress returns
• Trump Weighs Replacing Pentagon Chief Hegseth After Republican Midterm Losses