(The Epoch Times)—President Donald Trump praised Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Nov. 4, a day after acknowledging that the Iran war played a role in the Republican Party’s midterm defeat.
When asked if he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump replied: “No, I think he’s doing a very good job.”
The president was also asked if he would want the Pentagon chief to fill Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat when she takes office as governor.
“I actually think he’d be very popular if he did that, but I haven’t heard that at all,” Trump told reporters.
Blackburn, who was endorsed by Trump, made history as the first woman to be elected governor of the Volunteer State on Nov. 3. She beat Democrat Jerri Green, a councilwoman and lawyer, in a tight race. Only a few thousand votes separated the two candidates when the race was called at about 9:45 p.m.
A message sent to the Pentagon seeking comment from Hegseth about Trump’s statement was not immediately returned.
On Oct. 21, he posted a personal message with a photo of himself with Trump at the White House.
“Our Commander-in-Chief (today),” he posted on X. “He never stops working. He never backs down. He puts America First, always. Honored to serve him—and our great Warriors.”
Trump’s positive review of the war secretary comes amid discussion among some Democrats and one anti-war Republican in Congress about voting on articles of impeachment against Hegseth when they return to session on Nov. 9.
Trump told national media earlier in the day he believed the war in Iran was part of what cost his party a majority in both chambers of Congress and losses in several state offices across the country in the midterm elections.
The president also said he stood by his decision to enter into the conflict at the end of February alongside Israel, reiterating that the U.S. military operations were to stop the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“I did the right thing,” he told The Wall Street Journal. “I would have done it again.”
Critics Vow to Target Hegseth
Congressional Democratic leaders celebrated their party’s wins on Nov. 4, vowing to dive immediately into investigations and saying that impeachment was on the table. Many of them have also suggested targeting Hegseth over his role in the Iran war.
Outspoken war critic Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who lost his GOP primary in May, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Sept. 15.
He plans to reintroduce the articles of impeachment when Congress returns next week if Hegseth doesn’t resign, he said on Nov. 4.
Massie’s impeachment articles allege that Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution in several instances, including by engaging in hostilities in Iran beyond the 90-day window without congressional authorization.
The lawmaker also accuses Hegseth of “abusing the powers of the Department of Defense” in the Jan. 3 U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia, in Caracas. The couple is now in the United States facing charges of torture, narcoterrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons offenses.
During a campaign speech on Oct. 31 in Virginia, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries—who will likely be elected as House Speaker in January—said he would want to target Hegseth for removal first, but stopped short of saying he would impeach him.
“In the majority, one of the first things we’re going to do is run Pete Hegseth out of town,” Jeffries told the audience.
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) said he plans to vote to impeach Hegseth.
“We have an impeachment vote pending in the House that will have to take place very soon during the lame duck session,” Walkinshaw told Aaron Parnas on a podcast.
On Oct. 29, Trump warned Democrats against trying to impeach Hegseth, defending him as “a great warrior.”
“I think he’s the best at his job in many, many ways,” Trump told reporters.
A message sent to the Pentagon seeking comment from Hegseth was not immediately returned.
