Republicans are increasingly distancing themselves from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the wake of the party's midterm election losses, with several lawmakers questioning his leadership and one predicting an "impeachment push" against him.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) suggested Friday that Hegseth might need to be replaced, stating that "a lot of questions" surround his leadership and the administration's strategy in Iran. "That’s going to be a decision that President Trump’s going to have to make," Comer told News Nation when asked about a potential successor. Comer indicated that frustration over gas prices and the administration's handling of the Iran conflict contributed to Republican voters staying home on Election Day.
In response, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that Secretary Hegseth "will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists." Parnell added that the Department of War has followed the law and the secretary remains "100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office."
However, additional Republican voices have joined the criticism. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told Fox News Digital that he does not believe Hegseth was a good choice for the Pentagon and questioned his judgment and moral compass. Bacon also cited Hegseth's handling of the controversy surrounding the administration's use of the Signal messaging app for sensitive military operations, suggesting that Hegseth failed to take responsibility.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a long-time critic, warned that Hegseth has "a reckoning" coming, arguing that the Defense Secretary's strained relationship with lawmakers has hindered efforts to secure support for the administration's proposed defense spending package.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) stated that the Iran war would already be over had Hegseth focused on building alliances. The growing Republican backlash coincides with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) preparing to force a vote on articles of impeachment against Hegseth when Congress reconvenes. Massie has accused the Defense Secretary of abusing his office by pursuing military action against Iran without congressional authorization.
"There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns," Massie wrote on X. Multiple House Republicans have privately indicated to CNN that they foresee the impeachment effort passing, with one lawmaker telling Fox News, "He’s screwed."
Criticism has also extended to military leadership involved in the Iran conflict. Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, launched a podcast where he discussed retirement plans, amid scrutiny from White House-aligned officials who reportedly described his approach as "awful" and overly restrained.
Reports suggest Hegseth may have provided overly optimistic assessments to President Trump regarding the speed of the military campaign against Iran and faced questions about the administration's failure to achieve a lasting victory.
Hegseth, however, has expressed no intention of resigning. In a video posted from outside the Pentagon, he dismissed the impeachment efforts as "political theater" and "the politics of personal destruction." He defended the Iran war as a "courageous and historic effort" and urged lawmakers to approve the administration's defense spending request.
President Trump has publicly supported Hegseth, calling his job performance "fantastic" and suggesting that critics are reacting to his decision to remove senior military leaders. However, the president's backing may not alleviate the growing frustration among Republicans facing the consequences of their midterm losses.