President Trump on Thursday sharply criticized Democrats for their ongoing efforts to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dismissing the push as a political vendetta rather than a legitimate oversight exercise.
"I think it's terrible. All they do is they talk about impeaching everybody," Trump told reporters when asked whether he was concerned about Democratic attempts to oust Hegseth. "I mean, honestly, if we wanted to play that game, we could play it just as well. But they're talking about Pete Hegseth."
The president went on to praise the Pentagon chief as a "great warrior" who is doing a "great job," adding, "I think he's the best at his job in many, many years, and a lot of people agree with that."
The impeachment chatter has been building among House Democrats, several of whom have told The Hill they support Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) privileged resolution to impeach Hegseth, which was introduced last month. That resolution is expected to come up for a vote soon after lawmakers return from the November midterms, and Democrats have signaled they would back a separate effort to force Hegseth's removal if they regain the House majority.
Democrats have lambasted Hegseth for a series of controversial decisions, including the firing of more than two dozen senior military officers, overseeing lethal strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, and what they describe as a lack of transparency with Congress regarding the handling of the Iran war.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a former Marine Corps Reserve officer, issued a blistering statement Wednesday, calling Hegseth "nothing short of a disaster for the Pentagon and for America's standing in the world." Carbajal cited "Signalgate," the "partisan purging of military leadership," and the "spiraling human and financial toll of the war in Iran" as evidence that Hegseth is "unfit to lead our armed forces." He added, "If he won't resign, I will vote in favor of impeachment at the next opportunity."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been more cautious, slamming Hegseth in strong terms but stopping short of a full endorsement of impeachment, which would face a steep climb in the Senate. At a campaign rally last weekend, Jeffries said a Democratic majority would "run Pete Hegseth out of town."
The Pentagon has pushed back, with press secretary Kingsley Wilson calling Hegseth a "transformative leader" who has "slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way." Wilson added that "by every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's leadership than before."
Other House Democrats are focusing on Hegseth's decision to block promotions for one- and two-star officers across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, arguing that such a move undermines military readiness. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), a former Army colonel and HASC member, called Hegseth the "least qualified, most incompetent" Pentagon chief in American history, stating that "his recklessness, staggering lack of judgment, and repeated failures have put American service members at risk." Vindman concluded, "His conduct warrants impeachment, and I will vote to hold him accountable."
The political standoff comes as the White House and congressional Democrats are already locked in battles over presidential power and other issues. Trump's comments on Thursday suggest he is prepared to defend Hegseth aggressively, while Democrats appear determined to keep the pressure on as the midterm elections approach.
