Republicans are at loggerheads: Shock of impeachment for the Pentagon chief!

Following the midterm elections held on November 3 in the USA, political pressure on the President Donald Trump administration is increasing. Republican Party leaders in the House of Representatives are considering the possibility that some Republican lawmakers may break from the party line if the resolution on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is voted on this week.

According to Al Arabiya, the decrease in political concerns of Republican MPs who lost their seats in the elections increases their likelihood of supporting Hegseth's dismissal. The weakening of support for the Minister of Defense, especially after the war against Iran, deepens the unrest within the party.

Republican House member Don Bacon, who is preparing to leave Congress, said in a statement to Fox News that Hegseth is not very popular in Congress. Bacon told Axios that he has not yet decided what stance he will take in the vote, which is expected to be held this week.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE INITIATIVE

Kentucky's Republican House of Representatives member, Thomas Massie, is preparing to vote on the resolution regarding Hegseth's impeachment.

Massie accuses the Secretary of Defense of disregarding the powers of Congress and unlawfully continuing the US war against Iran.

The Republican leadership prevented the impeachment vote from taking place before the midterm elections. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson canceled the voting on some agenda items and took an early break from the work of MPs.

Johnson had argued that his decision was not intended to avoid a vote on Hegseth's impeachment. However, it was considered that such a vote to be held weeks before the elections could create a serious political problem for the Republicans.

As the balance within the party changed after the election defeat, criticisms against Hegseth began to be expressed more openly.

REACTION TO THE IRAN WAR

While debates continue among Republicans in the House of Representatives regarding the responsibility for the election defeat, the Iran war has become the center of criticism against the party leadership and the Trump administration.

Speaking to Axios, a Republican Congressman attributed the election defeat to the Iran war and said: "Iran, Iran, Iran... We should not have entered this war before the midterm elections."

For many Republicans in Congress, Hegseth has become the political and military face of the war. For this reason, the criticism of MPs who are disturbed by the election results and the consequences of the war is directed directly at the Minister of Defense.

Another Republican lawmaker who spoke to Axios said that Hegseth's language and public stance seriously harmed efforts to explain to the American people the reasons for the attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and subsequent military operations.

HEGSETH DEBATE IN MANAGEMENT

The pressure on Hegseth is not limited to Congress.

According to Axios, some officials in the Trump administration also want the Secretary of Defense to be dismissed. It is stated that differences of opinion regarding Hegseth's future have become evident within the administration.

However, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he planned to defend Hegseth and keep him in office.

If Hegseth remains in office until January, the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives will be able to initiate investigations against the Secretary of Defense and advance the impeachment process.

HEGSETH: THIS IS A FRAUD

Defense Minister Pete Hegseth reacted harshly to the impeachment attempt against him.

Describing the initiative as a "charade" in the video he published on his X account on Thursday, Hegseth argued that the process was carried out by an "angry and defeated member of Congress."

Thomas Massie, who lost the Republican Party primaries against his opponent supported by Trump, called on the President to dismiss Hegseth.

Massie stated that the Secretary of Defense should be replaced before the Republicans lose control of the Senate and made the following statement: "There is only one situation in which I will not re-introduce articles of impeachment: Hegseth's resignation."

PENTAGON'S RESPONSE TO THE IMPEACHMENT ATTEMPT

Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the US Department of Defense, told Axios that Hegseth would not back down in the face of political pressure.

Parnell claimed that some politicians acted in line with party interests and tried to launch groundless investigations even though there was no irregularity.

Arguing that the Department of Defense acted in accordance with the law, Parnell stated that Hegseth will continue to defend the Constitution, lead the American Armed Forces and ensure the security of the country.

Parnell used the following statements in his statement: "We will continue to implement President Trump's agenda at the War Department, despite Democrats' threats to launch baseless investigative campaigns. Secretary Hegseth is 100 percent committed to leading the department through the end of President Trump's term."

WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO DISMISS ME?

Hegseth's impeachment in the House of Representatives does not automatically mean his removal from office.

According to the US Constitution, after the House of Representatives decides on impeachment, the trial takes place in the Senate. In order for the minister to be dismissed, two-thirds of the members present in the Senate must vote for conviction.

Therefore, even if Democrats take over the Senate majority in January, the support of Republican senators will be needed to remove Hegseth from office.

While differences of opinion within the Republican Party increase uncertainty about Hegseth's political future, the upcoming vote is expected to be a new test for the Trump administration.