WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing criticism from Republicans over his role in the war with Iran following the party’s heavy losses in the midterm elections, although President Donald Trump has publicly defended him.
Some Republican lawmakers and allies have blamed Hegseth for persuading Trump to launch the conflict without a clear exit strategy, arguing that his handling of the war contributed to the party’s electoral defeat, CNN reported on Wednesday.
“If the president is serious about anyone taking responsibility for it, it’s Pete Hegseth,” a Republican close to the White House told CNN.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth and said he plans to force a House vote when Congress returns next week.
Trump defended Hegseth on Wednesday when asked whether he was considering replacing him.
“No, I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump told reporters.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis also warned that Hegseth faced “a reckoning”, saying his strained relationship with lawmakers was undermining the administration’s efforts to secure support for a $1.5 trillion defence spending package.
Democrats have pledged investigations into Hegseth’s leadership of the Pentagon when they take control of Congress in January. Potential areas of scrutiny include his handling of the Iran war, the removal of senior military officials, US policy towards Ukraine and military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters.
Hegseth has rejected the prospect of investigations, with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell saying the defence secretary would not be deterred by what he called partisan efforts.
“We will continue to drive President Trump’s agenda at the Department of War — despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats — and Secretary Hegseth is 100 percent committed to leading the department until the end of President Trump’s term in office,” Parnell said.
The election results gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, handing them the opportunity to intensify scrutiny of the Trump administration.
