US House moves toward ousting Pete Hegseth after GOP defeat

In a new development reflecting mounting political pressure on President Donald Trump's administration following the Republican defeat in the midterm elections, Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives are preparing for the possibility that enough party members may break ranks to vote in favor of removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when the motion comes up for a vote this week.

According to Al Arabiya, observers believe that Republicans who lost their seats in the election have little left to lose politically, making them more likely to support Hegseth's removal. Support for Hegseth has waned since the outbreak of the war with Iran.

Fox News reported that Republican Representative Don Bacon said Hegseth does not have "much love" in Congress, though he added that he has not yet decided how he will vote this week.

Meanwhile, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky plans to force a vote on Hegseth's removal, citing accusations that Hegseth defied Congress and continued to manage the US war with Iran unlawfully.

Republican leaders had avoided bringing the motion forward before election day, after House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled votes on several issues and sent lawmakers home early.

Johnson denied that his decision was aimed at avoiding a vote on the defense secretary's removal. However, bringing up the issue just weeks before the midterms would have put Republicans in a politically sensitive position. The political calculus has shifted significantly after Tuesday's defeat, with the loss fueling anger within the party and increasing the number of lawmakers willing to support Hegseth's ouster.

The pressure is not limited to Congress. According to Axios, Hegseth is also facing a difficult situation within the Trump administration, as some officials are pushing for his dismissal.

For his part, the US president defended his defense secretary last week, affirming his intention to keep him in office. If Hegseth remains in his post until January, the new Democratic majority in the House will be able to launch investigations and proceed with removal proceedings.

On Thursday, Pete Hegseth hit back at efforts to remove him, calling them a "farce" led by a "disgruntled and defeated congressman" in a video posted on X.