Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had a defiant message for Democrats seeking to impose additional oversight on the Pentagon following this week’s midterm elections, as speculation about his future has gone into overdrive.
Hegseth shared a five-minute video on social media on Thursday, filmed outside the Pentagon, in which he declared, “We have only just begun to fight. We are more determined than ever, more resolute than ever to finish what we have started, we will stand, we will fight, and we will defend this republic from all enemies foreign and domestic.”
His comments come as several Democrats have called for more aggressive oversight of the Pentagon following the party’s overwhelming victory in the midterm elections. Specific areas that Democrats have indicated they may look into include the Iran war, Hegseth’s firing of several senior military officers with little to no explanation, lethal boat strikes in the Western Hemisphere, and more.
The secretary added, “A disgruntled defeated congressman along all his democrat allies has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly. Just like they tried against President Trump twice… didn’t work with President Trump and it won’t work with me.”
Hegseth was referencing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), the outgoing Republican lawmaker who previously introduced articles of impeachment against him. The secretary took the unusual step of endorsing Massie’s Republican challenger, Ed Gallrein, who won the election on Tuesday.
“If Trump’s going to replace appointees like Hegseth, he should do it while he can still get the replacements confirmed in the Senate,” Massie posted to social media earlier Thursday. “Also, my Hegseth impeachment resolution is a much gentler version of what’s coming when Dem’s (sic) control Congress. They’ll have hearings & trials.”
Both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have acknowledged in the days since the election that the Iran war played a significant factor in their heavy losses even in traditionally conservative areas.
Trump has expressed his support for Hegseth multiple times in recent days as well, given the scrutiny the war has faced in light of how badly the Republicans were beaten in the election.
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Despite his criticism of Democrats, Hegseth still emphasized the importance of the department’s $1.5 trillion defense budget request, which appears less likely following the election.
“When we say that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, we actually mean it and we will do the hard work to ensure it under the leadership of President Trump,” he said. “You see, because regardless of how people feel about the war, which I believe is a courageous and historic effort that will ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. We need to continue, as President Trump did in his first term to rebuild our military. The Department of War must be funded to meet the moment right now.”
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
