Analysts say Trump could fire Hegseth as lawmakers plan impeachment effort
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An analysis says there is growing speculation that President Trump could dismiss Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the midterm defeat. Some lawmakers say they plan to impeach Hegseth, who denies allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
An analysis piece says speculation is growing that President Donald Trump could remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, days after the Republican Party's heavy midterm defeat. Trump has already reshaped his team, replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller.
Tom Pepinsky, a government professor at Cornell University, says Trump may see firing Hegseth as a television ratings boost, in the style of his reality show The Apprentice. He said it is impossible to know whether it will happen. Stephen Ansolabehere, a Harvard professor, said he would not be surprised if Hegseth resigned or offered to resign before January.
The article says experts see Hegseth's support for US military action in Iran as his main political weakness, as the war is unpopular with many Americans. Trump has publicly backed Hegseth, though the article notes he did the same with Wiles.
Democrats will control both houses of Congress from January, and several politicians say they plan to impeach Hegseth. Colorado Democrat Jason Crow called him incompetent and corrupt. Outgoing Republican Thomas Massie has promised to force an impeachment vote and urged Trump to replace Hegseth before Republicans lose control of Congress. Hegseth has called Massie a "disgruntled, defeated congressman" and described the effort as "political theatre disguised as power". He denies the allegations of corruption and abuse of power.
