Republicans blame Pete Hegseth after election defeat
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Egypt Independent
US Republican lawmakers are seeking to place part of the blame for the party’s heavy midterm election defeat on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The House of Representatives could soon vote on a measure targeting the Pentagon chief, Egypt Independent reports, citing Republican lawmakers and strategists.
US Republican lawmakers are seeking to place part of the blame for the party’s defeat in the midterm elections on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. They accuse him of persuading Donald Trump to attack Iran without an exit strategy or a plan to limit the political consequences of the conflict, Egypt Independent reports, citing CNN and Republican officials.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky plans to request a vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth as soon as Congress returns next week. Several Republican sources cited by CNN expect the initiative to pass in the House of Representatives, while party lawmakers remain reluctant to directly challenge Donald Trump.
Critics accuse Pete Hegseth, the United States defence secretary, of advocating a military escalation even though the bombing had allegedly not brought Iran closer to capitulation. Vice-President J. D. Vance said on 4 November that «the reason we lost is the war», without personally naming the defence secretary, according to Egypt Independent.
The political offensive follows the defeat of Trump’s candidates in the Senate elections, announced on 4 November. It also comes after J. D. Vance attributed the Republican defeat to the war in Iran and after it was announced on the same day that Trump was considering replacing Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, according to previous reports.
