Pete Hegseth Is Rightly in the Crosshairs of US Congress
The U.S. 'secretary of war' has responded to his impeachment proceedings with counterattacks and insults. He must hope that it can buy him time; it won't solve his problems.
As Pete Hegseth stepped up to the podium in the Pentagon press room on Tuesday morning, Washington time, he knew full well that he was essentially doing this for just one person. The U.S. secretary of war wants to keep his job, so he has to convince Donald Trump that the Iran war is not responsible for the Republican's crushing defeat. Hegseth's wordy, roughly half-hour-long appearance before the press showed just how well the former Fox News host knows the preferences of his boss.
Without actually naming names, he resorted to insults against Republican Thomas Massie, who initiated the impeachment proceedings against him. ("I'll get right to it. What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight and it's not accountability. It's political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment, time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country, and most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it. It's a farce and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it.") He issued grim threats. ("Make no mistake about what is happening. This is not about me. Politicians in Washington have accused the sailors and the pilots who struck narco-terrorist boats of war crimes for doing their job. Senators in cute videos have suggested the same. This resolution is the next step: put the secretary on trial today and the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow. If they want to come for the warriors, they're going to have to come through me.") And he lavished praise on Trump's decision to go to war, sending it across the Potomac River toward the White House. ("History will judge the Iran war quite differently than conventional wisdom right now. We didn't start this war. Iran did — 47 years ago. But President Trump is willing to do what no other president would. He did the tough right thing, not for politics but for the safety and the security of the American people. That's leadership. He did not kick the can. He kicked their teeth in.") All of this is meant to buy Hegseth time — but the criticism against him won’t vanish.
Surprisingly Concrete Allegations against Hegseth
As Massie presented his eight charges, he surprised many because he didn't limit himself to only political squabbles. He specifically criticized Hegseth for unlawful actions; for example, for the lack of congressional approval for the Iran war or the deaths of shipwrecked sailors due to missile strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels. Also, Massie considers the arrest of the ousted Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, to be a violation of international law. Anyone who reads his points gets the impression that the secretary is rightly in the crosshairs of his critics.
The truth is that Massie isn't the only Republican to oppose the secretary. Others have also publicly criticized Hegseth, even if they haven't officially given their support for his removal. Washington journalists repeatedly whisper to one another about how even senators and representatives from his own party are irritated by the boorish behavior of the secretary and that of his staff.
Also, Democrats know that Hegseth is a much easier target than the president. If the House of Representatives were to approve impeachment proceedings against him*, they would still have a long way to go to reach the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate to be able to remove Hegseth from office.
Since the clear outcome of the midterm elections, the big question is how long loyalty to the Trump administration will remain worthwhile for conservatives. With their new majority in Congress, Democrats will begin detailed deliberations on impeachment charges starting in January.
Trump Still Stands by Hegseth
Outside of Congress, the question remains as to how Trump will react. The president is still praising his telegenic secretary and giving him an online "A+++" for this response to the criticism. But a sluggish investigation into Hegseth has not only hindered progress in the Iran conflict, but also has threatened the approval of the new $1.5 trillion military budget. Trump had demanded a substantial increase of around 50% for this budget, but its approval is stalled in Congress.
The secretary may be loudly patting himself on the back, much to Trump's liking. But Trump also has a keen sense of weakness. He knows that, in the end, as president, he bears responsibility for starting the devastating Iran war and the skyrocketing gas prices. But after Tuesday's press conference, the secretary remains a tempting scapegoat. If Trump really wants to make a difference, he needs to send a message and fire Hegseth.
*Editor's note: The vote to impeach Pete Hegseth was defeated in the House by a 211-204 vote, with all Republicans except Thomas Massie voting to send it back to committee.
As Pete Hegseth stepped up to the podium in the Pentagon press room on Tuesday morning, Washington time, he knew full well that he was essentially doing this for just one person. The U.S. secretary of war wants to keep his job, so he has to convince Donald Trump that the Iran war is not responsible for the Republican's crushing defeat. Hegseth's wordy, roughly half-hour-long appearance before the press showed just how well the former Fox News host knows the preferences of his boss.
Without actually naming names, he resorted to insults against Republican Thomas Massie, who initiated the impeachment proceedings against him. ("I'll get right to it. What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight and it's not accountability. It's political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment, time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country, and most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it. It's a farce and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it.") He issued grim threats. ("Make no mistake about what is happening. This is not about me. Politicians in Washington have accused the sailors and the pilots who struck narco-terrorist boats of war crimes for doing their job. Senators in cute videos have suggested the same. This resolution is the next step: put the secretary on trial today and the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow. If they want to come for the warriors, they're going to have to come through me.") And he lavished praise on Trump's decision to go to war, sending it across the Potomac River toward the White House. ("History will judge the Iran war quite differently than conventional wisdom right now. We didn't start this war. Iran did — 47 years ago. But President Trump is willing to do what no other president would. He did the tough right thing, not for politics but for the safety and the security of the American people. That's leadership. He did not kick the can. He kicked their teeth in.") All of this is meant to buy Hegseth time — but the criticism against him won’t vanish.
Surprisingly Concrete Allegations against Hegseth
As Massie presented his eight charges, he surprised many because he didn't limit himself to only political squabbles. He specifically criticized Hegseth for unlawful actions; for example, for the lack of congressional approval for the Iran war or the deaths of shipwrecked sailors due to missile strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels. Also, Massie considers the arrest of the ousted Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, to be a violation of international law. Anyone who reads his points gets the impression that the secretary is rightly in the crosshairs of his critics.
The truth is that Massie isn't the only Republican to oppose the secretary. Others have also publicly criticized Hegseth, even if they haven't officially given their support for his removal. Washington journalists repeatedly whisper to one another about how even senators and representatives from his own party are irritated by the boorish behavior of the secretary and that of his staff.
Also, Democrats know that Hegseth is a much easier target than the president. If the House of Representatives were to approve impeachment proceedings against him*, they would still have a long way to go to reach the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate to be able to remove Hegseth from office.
Since the clear outcome of the midterm elections, the big question is how long loyalty to the Trump administration will remain worthwhile for conservatives. With their new majority in Congress, Democrats will begin detailed deliberations on impeachment charges starting in January.
Trump Still Stands by Hegseth
Outside of Congress, the question remains as to how Trump will react. The president is still praising his telegenic secretary and giving him an online "A+++" for this response to the criticism. But a sluggish investigation into Hegseth has not only hindered progress in the Iran conflict, but also has threatened the approval of the new $1.5 trillion military budget. Trump had demanded a substantial increase of around 50% for this budget, but its approval is stalled in Congress.
The secretary may be loudly patting himself on the back, much to Trump's liking. But Trump also has a keen sense of weakness. He knows that, in the end, as president, he bears responsibility for starting the devastating Iran war and the skyrocketing gas prices. But after Tuesday's press conference, the secretary remains a tempting scapegoat. If Trump really wants to make a difference, he needs to send a message and fire Hegseth.
*Editor's note: The vote to impeach Pete Hegseth was defeated in the House by a 211-204 vote, with all Republicans except Thomas Massie voting to send it back to committee.
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