Hegseth faces removal push after midterms

US House Democrats are preparing articles of impeachment to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office. The party intends to launch the formal process if it secures a majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlined the strategy during a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month. He stated, "One of the first things we're going to do in the majority, we're going to run Pete Hegseth out of town." Other Democratic lawmakers have used similar language to describe their intent.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal called Hegseth "incompetent and, frankly, corrupt" in an interview with CNN. Rep. Jared Huffman labeled him an "unhinged fanatic who should be impeached and removed from office." These statements signal a unified stance among senior party members regarding the secretary's fitness for office.

The push for removal is not limited to the Democratic caucus. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September. Massie, a vocal critic of the war in Iran and US aid to Israel, accused the secretary of abusing his authority. He claimed Hegseth executed an order for hostilities against Iran without congressional approval.

Massie plans to force a House vote on the matter shortly after lawmakers return to session on Nov. 9. This date falls the week after the midterm elections. The timing suggests a coordinated effort to capitalize on the new legislative dynamics.

The political pressure coincides with recent scrutiny of Hegseth's diplomatic activities. The secretary held a covert meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda air base on Monday. This visit occurred days before Israel's general election. Two sources confirmed the meeting to Walla on Tuesday.

Reuters reported that Hegseth acknowledged the visit but declined to provide details about the conversation. A report from KAN News identified Iran as the main topic of discussion. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz attended the meeting, while IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials were excluded for confidentiality reasons.