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US Politics

Hegseth vows not to back down as a Republican congressman plans impeachment push

Trump says Hegseth is doing a "fantastic job," but NBC News, citing two people, reports Trump is asking some allies who should succeed him.

Pete Hegseth in 2025
Pete Hegseth in 2025. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
10 news outlets reported this
Liberal6 outletsa besieged Hegseth and the Trump team's doubtsCenter0 outletslittle coverageConservative4 outletsdefiant Hegseth answering Democrats and ouster rumors
Published 3 min read
Overview

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a video of about five minutes on X on Thursday, filmed outside the Pentagon, saying "we don't back down." He called articles of against him "sham" and pointed to Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, as a "disgruntled, defeated congressman." Massie, who is leaving , said Wednesday he will bring impeachment articles against Hegseth again once is back in session.

Lawmakers are scheduled back on Monday. Massie said the only thing that would stop him is Hegseth resigning. Impeachment would need several Republicans to join all Democrats, and conviction would need 67 votes.

Democrats won both chambers in Tuesday's elections. Trump said it is "largely true" that gas prices after the Iran war began contributed to the losses, and Vice President JD Vance wrote, "The reason we lost is the war." Hegseth defended the war and asked Congress for a reconciliation bill of at least $350 billion for the Pentagon.

Trump said he is not planning to replace Hegseth and that he "has done a fantastic job." NBC News reported that two people familiar with the discussions say Trump told some allies he is considering a replacement, and asked whom they would pick to succeed Hegseth.

Key figures
  • at least $350 billion reconciliation bill Hegseth asked Congress for — Just the News
  • 67 Senate votes needed to convict Hegseth after a House impeachment, per MS NOW — MS NOW
  • two legislative days time Speaker Johnson would have to act once Massie forces a vote, per MS NOW — MS NOW
  • $1.5 trillion the Pentagon's defense budget request, per the Washington Examiner — Washington Examiner

Three sides of the story

Liberal6 outlets

a besieged Hegseth and the Trump team's doubts

NBC News opens with Hegseth's "defiant tone" and his "disgruntled, defeated congressman" line, then sets out the House math: Massie's plan, Monday's return, and the need for several Republicans to join all Democrats. It reports that two people familiar with the discussions told NBC that Trump has said to some allies he is weighing a replacement and has asked whom they would suggest as successor. Trump himself says he is not planning a change.

MS NOW centers on the Pentagon's counterattack. Deputy press secretary Joel Valdez calls the social media push "a very light appetizer," and an anonymous House Republican tells the outlet "the numbers are there." The Daily Beast calls the video an "unhinged" appeal and says Hegseth appeared to avoid the election losses.

The Independent says his "seat gets warmer" after midterm losses, links the Iran war to gas prices, and cites an October YouGov poll in which 28 percent saw him as a strong role model for men and 39 percent did not.

Center0 outlets

Outlets in the center gave the story little coverage.

Conservative4 outlets

defiant Hegseth answering Democrats and ouster rumors

The Daily Mail calls Hegseth "very defiant" as "ouster chatter" peaks, and reports that insiders say he could take the fall for the midterm losses. It quotes a senior Republican saying "Trump is making phone calls, contemplating it," and Trump saying he has "every intention to keep him." It also relays Republican sources' allegation that Trump is "encouraging"

Marsha Blackburn to appoint Hegseth to her Senate seat. The Washington Examiner leads with his message to Democrats seeking more Pentagon oversight, quoting "We have only just begun to fight," and lists areas Democrats may investigate. Just the News headlines Hegseth seeking $350B for the military and says he dismissed the impeachment push as political theater over ending diversity initiatives.

The Washington Times reports a defiant Hegseth saying he is not leaving the Pentagon and won't back down after Democrats took both houses.

All sources: 11 articles from 10 outlets

Liberal (7)

Conservative (4)

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Impeachment

A formal accusation against a top official, up to the president, voted by the House of Representatives. Only the Senate can then remove the official, with two-thirds of the votes.

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Congress

The US parliament: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill becomes law when both pass it and the president signs it.

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House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress: 435 members elected every two years, with more seats for bigger states. It is the chamber that can impeach officials.

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Senate

The upper chamber of Congress: 100 senators, two per state, elected for six years. It confirms judges and ministers and approves treaties.

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Midterm elections

US elections halfway through a president's four-year term. The whole House, a third of the Senate and many governors are elected. In 2026 Election Day is November 3.

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