Pete Hegseth says he will fight impeachment, defying calls to resign

USA Today · , USA TODAY · 2026-11-05 23:02 UTC

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth vowed to fight a looming impeachment effort, defying calls to resign.

WASHINGTON – Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth vowed to fight an impeachment effort and defended the decision to attack Iran, defying calls to resign after Republicans suffered devastating losses in an election widely interpreted as a public repudiation of the Iran war.

“We don’t back down and that especially applies now,” Hegseth said on Nov. 5 in a video address. “The next few months and years are critical for our department and our republic.”

President Donald Trump has acknowledged fielding calls from people who are critical of Hegseth’s leadership, but has repeatedly said he intends to keep him at the helm of the Pentagon.

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