Controversial, but still in command: Why Pete Hegseth’s tenure is being tested

The Iran war is going badly for the United States, with no off-ramp in sight. Still, other than President Donald Trump, few have continued to champion the U.S. military campaign as enthusiastically as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who touts lethal American firepower, critics say, with something akin to a schoolboy’s excitement about the grim business of war.Now, as next week’s midterm elections approach, Mr. Trump’s support for his defense secretary is being tested: Promises of a quick victory against the Islamic Republic have given way to high gas prices, escalating ultimatums against an uncowed regime, and increasingly sharp questions from Congress over strategy and war costs.If Republicans lose control of Congress next week, Mr. Hegseth could be the logical scapegoat, analysts say. Polls already rank the defense secretary high among administration officials with particularly low approval ratings. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, meanwhile, say that rather than project strength, dwindling munitions stockpiles and the dismissal of experienced leaders have exposed U.S. vulnerabilities. An impeachment vote is likely to come up as soon as the House of Representatives, now out of session, returns to Washington on Nov. 9.To his supporters, Mr. Hegseth is a transformational leader, but his style and tone, they add, often undermine his efforts. Kevin Wolf/APDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth talks to a group of National Guard soldiers before administering the oath of enlistment, at the base of the Washington Monument, Feb. 6, 2026, in Washington. A loyalty test for President TrumpWhile the president has seemed disinclined to bend to congressional pressure, he created distance between himself and his defense secretary earlier this month in reversing Mr. Hegseth’s widely criticized plans to livestream a public execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army major who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.Mr. Hegseth has become a potential liability on Capitol Hill as well. Democrats, eyeing future leverage that could come with electoral wins, are reportedly floating the idea of blocking defense funding unless Mr. Hegseth is dismissed after the midterms. Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who lost his May primary to a Trump-backed challenger, said in an Oct. 15 social media post that the president should fire Mr. Hegseth before Congress impeaches him. Mr. Massie tried unsuccessfully to hold an impeachment vote against Mr. Hegseth in September. Carolyn Kaster/APKentucky Rep. Thomas Massie speaks during an election night watch party after losing the Republican party's nomination, at the Marriott Cincinnati Airport, May 19, 2026, in Hebron, Kentucky. A September Quinnipiac University survey found just 32% of voters approved of Secretary Hegseth’s job performance, and a YouGov poll the same month said that half (50%) of Americans would support impeachment for starting the Iran war without authorization by Congress, with 30% opposing.The defense secretary’s public fumbles predate the war. Mr. Hegseth launched his tenure by sharing sensitive military plans on a commercial messaging app, potentially endangering the lives of U.S. forces. He retained his job, then proceeded to remove or block the promotions of more than 80 generals and admirals, many of them women and Black officers.Mr. Hegseth has obstructed Pentagon access for journalists who have highlighted his mistakes. In his quest to restore an allegedly lost “warrior ethos,” he has also purged top military lawyers and overseen attacks on suspected drug boats, raising allegations of war crimes. His tone and style, meanwhile, have been nearly as controversial as the substance of his actions.“It doesn’t matter if Iran’s failing, Hegseth will come up with something new and ludicrous to say that is framed as scoring points against the libs,” says retired Lt. Col. Jason Dempsey, a former infantry officer who is now an analyst with the Center for a New American Security think tank. “That plays well with a certain segment of voters, and it plays well with the president.” Dennis Cook/AP/FileDefense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld answers a question during a news conference at the Pentagon, April 18, 2006. Mr. Rumsfeld faced calls for his resignation in 2006 from retired military generals and politicians who criticized his handling of the Iraq War, ultimately leading to his resignation in November of that year. Style and substanceMr. Hegseth has encouraged comparisons between himself and the late Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, whose turbulent tenure under President George W. Bush included overseeing the Iraq War and railing against Pentagon bureaucracy.But if Mr. Hegseth doesn’t build consensus with Democrats, then many of his “necessary and laudable” efforts will not last, says Bradley Bowman, a former infantry officer who now leads the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He adds that Mr. Hegseth’s style “is undermining his own objectives.” Secretary Rumsfeld resigned on Nov. 8, 2006, the day after Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress.For now, protests against Mr. Hegseth continue.Speaking on a panel earlier this month in a Washington, D.C., convention hall, the defense secretary’s remarks were initially interrupted by protesters. Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. “You’re a war criminal,” one shouted. A security guard muzzled another protester as he dragged her out. The Pentagon cut the livestream.“She thinks highly of me,” Mr. Hegseth said to a fellow panelist. “The reality is, I feel quite comfortable up here.” ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.