U.S. media quoted sources as saying that given that both President Trump and Vice-President Trump and Vance blamed the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections on the Iran war, the party's post-election goal of arresting war criminals has reportedly been directed at Secretary of War (Secretary of Defense) Hegseth. The media even directly pointed out that the replacement candidate is outgoing Florida Governor Deschanate. Republicans who still control the House of Representatives will vote to impeach Hegseth as soon as next week.
House of Representatives to push for impeachment vote as soon as next week
CBS News reported on the 4th that according to multiple people familiar with the matter, Trump asked his advisers and made phone calls after the Republican Party's defeat on the evening of the third day to ask whether Hegseth should remain in office. Although other sources said that Trump has not yet decided to remove Hegseth, sources revealed that Republican Florida Governor Deschanate is expected to succeed Hegseth as the Department of Defense; as long as the appointment is approved when the Republican Party still controls the Senate before the new Congress takes office in January next year, Deschanate can seamlessly become the Secretary of Defense after stepping down as governor.
At the same time, it is believed that Hegseth will be pursued by both the Democratic and Republican parties in the impeachment process in Congress. In addition to the congressional Democrats who tried to impeach Hegseth before the election, they may restart the impeachment case after becoming the majority party in the new Congress. Even the Republicans who still control the House of Representatives are eager to let Hegseth take the blame. Massey, an anti-Trump Republican congressman, told CNN that he plans to push for an impeachment vote against Hegseth when Congress resumes next week. Multiple Republican sources predict that Hegseth's impeachment trial should pass.
In addition, some White House aides predict that Cooper, the commander of the U.S. Central Command who played a major role in guiding the Iraq War, and Kaine, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, will also bear part of the responsibility for the Republican defeat.
Reporter asked: Trump said he would not replace anyone
On the afternoon of the 4th, in his first appearance after the election, Trump talked about the construction of the new White House ballroom. He did not mention the Republican defeat. He did not speak about the election defeat until reporters asked questions, including once again admitting that the increase in oil prices caused by the Iraq War was one of the reasons for the defeat. When asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, he bluntly stated that he would not replace Hegseth and said that Hegseth "performed very well." As for whether Hegseth would be allowed to take over the congressional seat left by U.S. Senator Blackburn, who was elected governor of Tennessee, Trump said he had not heard about it.
Also on the 4th, Jeffress, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives who is expected to become the first African-American Speaker of the House of Representatives in the history of the United States, said that the future Congress controlled by the Democratic Party will focus on affordability and accountability. He bluntly stated that the House of Representatives does not serve Trump, but serves the American people. As for Trump’s fear of being impeached by Congress for the third time, Jeffress said that no one has mentioned launching impeachment to him so far.
