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Pete Hegseth stares down impeachment vote in days as Republicans demand Trump fire him: Live updates
Developed over time first seen 2 hours ago
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, prompting Republican calls for Donald Trump to reshuffle his Cabinet. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has become a possible target, with a White House insider saying Trump had consulted advisers about removing him, although Trump publicly said he intended to keep him.
Democrats have filed at least three sets of articles seeking Hegseth’s impeachment, and Representative Jason Crow has said removing him would be a priority if Democrats retake the House. Trump also acknowledged that confirming a new defence secretary could be easier before Democrats take control of the Senate in January. No Cabinet member has ever been forced from office by the House; the article also reports Trump’s claims about an alleged candidate-name scheme in Alaska’s closely contested Senate race.
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In short
- Democrats’ midterm wins have intensified pressure on Trump’s Cabinet.
- Hegseth faces impeachment efforts, but Trump says he plans to keep him.
- Trump says a replacement could be easier to confirm before January.
How this story developed
- 13 minutes ago Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, prompting Republican calls for Donald Trump to reshuffle his Cabinet.
Full account
Donald Trump says he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as defence secretary despite calls for his dismissal following heavy Republican losses in the midterm elections. Speaking to ABC News, the president acknowledged that people had contacted him about Hegseth but said he did not understand the criticism. The Daily Mail, citing unnamed Republican and White House sources, reports that Trump has also asked close advisers whether Hegseth should remain in office. Those accounts suggest the president is weighing a change, but he has made no public announcement to that effect.
The timing could matter if Trump decides to replace him. Republicans currently control the Senate and its Armed Services Committee, which would consider a nominee before a confirmation vote by the full chamber. Democrats are due to take control when the new Congress convenes in January. Hegseth’s own confirmation in 2025 was exceptionally close: Vice-President JD Vance cast the deciding vote after senators split 50–50. The Daily Mail’s sources expect Hegseth to leave before the change in Senate control, although that remains their prediction rather than a decision confirmed by the White House.
The reports link the pressure on Hegseth partly to the administration’s handling of the war with Iran. An unnamed White House insider told the Daily Mail that Trump had learnt of significant military developments after they occurred and had questioned earlier claims about the destruction of Iranian air defences and missiles. The account has not been independently established in the material provided. The incoming Democratic House is also expected to scrutinise Hegseth, according to the paper, raising the possibility of impeachment proceedings. The supplied reports do not establish that an impeachment vote has been scheduled, despite the headline’s reference to one taking place within days.
Republicans are also debating the wider causes of their electoral defeat. Senator Ted Cruz described the result on his podcast as a severe rejection of his party and argued that Republicans had failed to respond to voters’ concerns about the cost of food, fuel, insurance and everyday life. He also cited tariffs and the Iran war. Outgoing Senator Thom Tillis told CNN that blaming the losses on the war alone, as Vice-President Vance had suggested, was too simple; he pointed to the loss of Hispanic support as one reason to look more broadly. Amid speculation about Hegseth’s future, the Daily Mail has also raised the possibility of a Tennessee Senate appointment after Marsha Blackburn becomes governor. Trump said he had heard no such plan.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Source 1 places greater emphasis on Republican reactions to the midterm defeat, particularly the differing assessments offered by Cruz and Tillis. Source 2 focuses on Trump’s public support for Hegseth, the reported private discussions about replacing him, Senate confirmation timing and allegations concerning information from the Iran war. Both sources describe a possible future impeachment effort; neither provides evidence of a scheduled vote within days.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of removing Hegseth could argue that impeachment and a Cabinet reshuffle are legitimate ways for Congress and the president to hold senior officials accountable and restore confidence in the Defence Department. If lawmakers believe his conduct or leadership warrants scrutiny, acting before a change in Senate control could also make a replacement easier to confirm.
The case against
Opponents could argue that impeachment should be reserved for serious, clearly established misconduct, not used as leverage in a partisan dispute or as a way to pre-empt a change in congressional control. They could also maintain that the president should decide whether a Cabinet secretary remains in office, and that Hegseth should be judged on his performance rather than political pressure or unverified claims.
Coverage · 2 sources
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