Hegseth promises ‘not to back down’ in pushing out Trump’s agenda as his seat gets warmer after midterm losses

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed “not to back down” in pushing out President Donald Trump’s agenda as his seat gets warmer after massive midterm losses.

“Just like the president, we don't back down, and that especially applies now. The next few months and years are critical for our department and our republic,” Hegseth said on the steps of the Pentagon Thursday. “This is about the president's ‘America First’ agenda. This is about our department's ‘Peace Through Strength’ agenda.”

Hegseth celebrated his dismantling of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives inside the department.

“Why do the Democrats and the deep state radicals really hate us? Because we tore down their sacred cows one by one and without apology. DEI is a Marxist ideology built to destroy us, so we crushed it,” he claimed. “Diversity is not our strength; our unity is men and women. They're not the same thing, but in the military, they must be held to the same standard.”

Hegseth’s spiel came hours after news broke that a Republican lawmaker will soon file articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief.

Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky, who has become a vocal critic of Trump, told Bloomberg News that he will “definitely” reintroduce articles of impeachment when his colleagues return to the House next week.

This is a developing story...