Still reeling from a disastrous midterm defeat, United States President Donald Trump may soon face a fresh political setback — the impeachment of defence secretary Pete Hegseth.
A controversial figure in Trump's second administration, Hegseth has faced growing criticism for his handling of the unpopular war in Iran , including from his own side of politics.
Republican congressman Thomas Massie, a Trump critic, is preparing to force an impeachment vote as early as this week.
Senior Democrats have also thrown their support behind the push, .
With some Republicans reportedly preparing to cross the floor, could Hegseth become the first US defence secretary to be removed from office?
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Last week's midterm election was a bloodbath for the Republicans, with the Democrats sweeping to decisive victories and taking control of Congress .
The soaring cost of living, driven in large part by the war in Iran, and anger towards Trump were widely seen as key factors. Trump himself acknowledged the war played a role in the results but stood by his decision to launch strikes against Iran in February.
With the Democrats controlling the House and Senate, they now have the power to impeach Trump administration officials. Axios reports some Republicans have little left to lose and blame Hegseth, who was a proponent for the war.
CNN reported several Republicans saying Hegseth had oversold the US' ability to secure a quick and decisive victory, and increasingly blamed him as the conflict became a quagmire.
Massie's resolution, which could be introduced as early as Tuesday AEDT, has eight articles of impeachment, alleging Hegseth committed US forces to hostilities without a formal declaration of war and continued military action in contravention of Congress resolutions.
The move has support from Democrats, with Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to be the next House speaker , saying he was "a hard yes" for impeachment.
He told US network ABC Hegseth had "abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran".
Hegseth posted a defiant video in response to calls for his impeachment.
"A disgruntled, defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly. Just like they tried against President Trump twice," Hegseth said in the video filmed outside the defence department.
"It's all about the politics of personal destruction. Didn't work against President Trump, and it won't work with me."
Trump has also defended his defence secretary, telling CBS News it was "very unfair" to impeach him.
"We had two wars, we won both. We won Venezuela, we won Iran," he said.
However, Axios reported that Hegseth's position in the Trump administration was precarious, with some officials pushing for him to be ousted.
"Hegseth is definitely on thin ice," a Trump adviser told the outlet.
"It doesn't mean the president forces him out. But there are complications."
US attorney-general Todd Blanche also signalled that the Trump administration was prepared to battle the Democrats in Congress, calling threats by some Democrats to target administration officials and allies "not something we can tolerate in this country".
"If that's what this new incoming leadership wants to do, we are ready," Blanche said.
"If you work in this administration, you have a lawyer. It's me."
Impeachment is a process by which the House of Representatives can vote to find an official guilty of misconduct. If that person is impeached, the Senate can remove them from office.
Democrats have a 254-seat majority in the House, well above the 218 threshold needed to pass articles of impeachment, but they would require a two-thirds Senate majority to remove an official from office.
Republicans would have to cross the floor, though there is growing discontent with Hegseth.
Two US cabinet secretaries have been impeached in the past.
Defence secretary William Belknap was impeached in 1876 over corruption allegations, but he resigned before the House vote. The Senate later acquitted him.
Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached in 2024 over border and immigration policies, but the Senate dismissed the charges without a full trial.
— With additional reporting by the Associated Press.
