Cruz says Hegseth will resign, be fired or get impeached
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Cruz says Hegseth will resign, be fired or get impeached Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) predicted on his podcast earlier this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will either resign, be fired or be impeached in the…
Cruz says Hegseth will resign, be fired or get impeached
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) predicted on his podcast earlier this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will either resign, be fired or be impeached in the latter half of President Trump’s second term.
“And one of two things is going to happen: either Hegseth is going to step down, either he will resign voluntarily or Trump will fire him . Or, if that does not happen, I think it is extremely likely, if not certain, that the House will impeach him ,” Cruz said on a Monday episode of his podcast, “The Verdict.” “Because, on the face of it, the votes are there. Now, it only takes a majority to impeach.”
Cruz’s comments came a day before House Republicans shelved Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) eight articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief.
The House voted 211-204 to refer the resolution, which Massie reintroduced on Monday, to committee — a move that essentially ends the push to impeach Hegseth in the 119th Congress.
Trump celebrated the vote outcome Tuesday evening.
“Again, Victories in Venezuela and Iran, the Best Recruitment Numbers in the History of the Military (Long waiting lists to get in!) and Spirit like rarely seen before, led to the EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social. “The Democrats continue to weaponize and abuse the United States of America. They must be stopped!”
Cruz said Monday he would not be surprised if Democrats try to impeach Hegseth once they take the majorities in both chambers of Congress come January.
“And I expect, if Schumer has the option of conducting a trial, I would anticipate that he would conduct an extended trial — that he would spend real time, weeks, if not months, using the trial to prosecute, number one, their opposition to the Iran War. ”
The Pentagon took a victory lap following the House vote Tuesday evening, calling the outcome a “total victory” and deriding Massie’s salvo as a “political exercise devoid of merit, evidence, or seriousness.”
“It collapses under the weight of Secretary Hegseth’s record of restoring the warrior ethos, delivering results and putting the mission first. The American people see through it, ” Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement .
“We will not indulge the political theater driven by a disgruntled soon-to-be former congressman and others who have chosen grandstanding over governing,” Parnell said. “ We look forward to ending this sham impeachment in the committee room, where facts will continue to prevail and this distraction can be put to rest.”
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
How policy will affect defense and national security now and in the future:
House Republicans on Tuesday shelved a measure spearheaded by outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would have led to a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a dramatic and tight 211-204 vote, the House voted to refer the resolution to committee, a move that essentially ends efforts to impeach Hegseth over the Iran war and other issues until the next Congress, when Democrats will hold large majorities in …
House Republicans on Tuesday shelved a measure led by outgoing GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) that would have led to a vote on impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The vote was 211-204, referring the resolution to committee, a move that essentially ends efforts to impeach Hegseth over the Iran war and other issues until the next Congress, when Democrats will hold large majorities in the House and Senate. Hegseth earlier …
Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said Tuesday he’s prepared to vote to oust Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should the House pass an impeachment resolution against the Pentagon chief this week, setting up the Senate for a full trial. “If it comes over, if there’s a vote, I’m likely to vote against Hegseth and for the impeachment,” Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill. “To me it’s a no-confidence vote for him. The best …
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) questioned on Tuesday whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is “being truthful” in sharing how the war against Iran is going as Vice President Vance has pointed to the conflict in the Middle East as being the culprit for Republican losses in the midterm elections. “Well, I just want to make sure that the right information is flowing from the Pentagon to the president,” Ernst, who served over …
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
Garcia lists Wiles among 4 former officials facing congressional probes
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), most likely the incoming House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair, said Tuesday that former White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will face a congressional investigation in the next Congress. “We’re already looking at Susie Wiles,” the Golden State Democrat …
The Arlington National Cemetery will host the 73rd annual National Veterans Day Observance starting at 11 a.m. ET tomorrow.
The Atlantic Council will host an event tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET on “Religion, development, and peace: What is the future of global partnerships?”
The Hudson Institute will host an event tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET on “A US Navy Fleet for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence and Com bat.”
Despite Denial, Trump Was Told on Trip to China About Spying on Nvidia Leader , The New York Times reports .
Allen Control Systems launches new division to develop counter-drone lasers , Breaking Defense reports.
Family sues Air Force over daughter’s brain injury from birth overseas, Task & Purpose reports .
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday advised her colleagues against booting Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) out of the House Democratic … Read more
Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) has expanded her lead over Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in her state’s competitive Senate contest. The latest batch … Read more
Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
Topics in this story
Gathered from external sources. Rights to this text belong to whoever originally published it.