Pete Hegseth is fighting to keep his job as defense secretary, and he’s making it clear he has no plans to leave quietly.
On Thursday, Hegseth lashed out at fellow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie over his renewed impeachment effort, accusing the Kentucky lawmaker and Democrats of attempting to destroy political opponents.
“It’s all about the politics of personal destruction,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X.
At the War Department: We Stand. We Fight. We Defend the Republic. https://t.co/Kkr0DazmCE
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 5, 2026
The heated response came just days after Democrats swept the midterm elections, securing control of both chambers of Congress. Massie, who plans to pursue an impeachment vote as early as next week, has offered Hegseth one way out.
“There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” he wrote Wednesday.
The congressman also warned that Democrats could pursue hearings and trials once they assume power.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries added to the pressure Thursday, asking, “Why is Pete Hegseth still around?” but President Donald Trump isn’t ready to part ways with his defense secretary.
“I have every intention to keep him,” Trump told ABC News.