President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized ongoing efforts by House Democrats to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Speaking to reporters before traveling to a campaign rally in South Carolina, Trump defended Hegseth's performance at the Pentagon and suggested his own party could pursue similar tactics against opponents if they chose to do so.
The comments come as the 2026 midterm elections approach, with polls and analysts suggesting a possible shift in House control. The Cook Political Report currently favors Democrats to win the 218 seats required for a majority, projecting they lead in 220 seats compared to 198 for Republicans, with 17 races labeled as toss-ups. House Democrats have signaled that Hegseth would be a primary target for oversight or removal should they regain the speakership.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) has also introduced a privileged resolution for impeachment, which he expects will come to a vote shortly after lawmakers return from the November midterms. Massie and various Democrats have cited Hegseth’s handling of the war in Iran, which began on February 28, and his authorization of lethal military strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific as grounds for his removal. In April, Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) led a group of Democrats in filing six articles of impeachment against him.
The scale of the underlying policy disputes is reflected in the financial and human costs of the Iran war, which the Washington Examiner reports has reached an estimated $47 billion, including nearly $30 billion spent on munitions. Ordinary Americans have already noticed the impact of these events through increased prices for gas and diesel fuel. Furthermore, Hegseth's administrative decisions, including the firing of more than two dozen senior military officers and the blocking of promotions for one- and two-star officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, have sparked debate over military preparedness and chain-of-command stability.
The outcome of the November 3 midterm elections will determine whether these impeachment efforts move from "chatter" to formal House action. If a majority is seated and proceeds with a vote, it sets a precedent for using impeachment to challenge executive branch conduct during an active war. Following the elections, the next major milestone occurs when lawmakers return to Washington, at which point Rep. Massie intends to force a vote on his resolution. President Trump has stated he may respond to a Democrat-led House by vetoing all legislation they pass, which would lead to a period of legislative gridlock starting in 2027.