Amid historic losses for the Republican Party in the November 3 midterm elections, a sharp intra-party conflict has erupted within the US Congress. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, representing Kentucky and known for his criticism of President Donald Trump, has stated that he will launch an impeachment procedure against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth immediately upon the lawmakers' return to Washington. According to him, the matter will be put to a vote in the House of Representatives. Several sources within the Republican Party have indicated they expect the initiative to be approved by the lower house of Congress.
Political Context: Election Failure and the Blame Game
According to CNN, attempts to shift responsibility for the war with Iran onto Hegseth have accelerated the historic Republican failures in the November 3 midterm elections. Many lawmakers, in their own private statements, argue that it was the Secretary who played the leading role in convincing Trump to attack Iran. In their view, this was done without an exit strategy or a plan to manage the consequences of the conflict.
Accusations from Party Colleagues: Escalation without Strategy
Several Republicans told CNN that Hegseth overestimated the US's ability to win the conflict quickly and easily. They also accuse him of continuing to advocate for escalation, even though, as they put it, long-term bombing has not brought Iran any closer to capitulation. Thus, a position is forming within the party that the head of the Pentagon, rather than the President, should be held accountable for the conduct and outcomes of the military operation.
Pentagon Response and Presidential Position
The Pentagon responded sharply to the initiative. The department's chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, stated that Hegseth "will not back down and will not be intimidated by politicians seeking to score party points or launch fake investigations where no wrongdoing exists." On November 4, it became known that Trump had called advisors to ask whether Hegseth should remain in office following the Republican defeat. That same day, the President told reporters that he is not considering replacing him.
Legal Perspectives: One House Vote is Not Enough
From a legal standpoint, removing a secretary cannot be achieved by a single vote in the lower house. For Hegseth's resignation, the decision must also be supported by the Senate, where two-thirds of senators would need to vote in his favor. This means that even with the approval of impeachment by the House of Representatives, the path to the actual dismissal of the Pentagon chief remains extremely complex and depends on the balance of power in the upper house.
What’s Next: Uncertainty in the Administration
According to RBC-Ukraine, the Trump administration has yet to decide what to do about Iran: some officials advise launching new strikes, while others recommend winding down the operation. US Vice President JD Vance on November 4 identified the war as the reason for the Republicans' defeat in the elections. Against this backdrop, Massie's initiative to put Hegseth's impeachment to a vote becomes one of the key political tests for the Republican Party after November 3.
