0
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. /EPA-Yonhap

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to remain in office in the face of impeachment efforts being pursued by some members of Congress.

Hegseth addressed mounting congressional pressure following the Nov. 3 midterm elections in a video message lasting more than four minutes, posted on social media Thursday, Reuters reported. 

In the video, he defended U.S. military operations in Iran as a "courageous and historic" effort to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also emphasized the legitimacy of his Pentagon reforms, including changes to the military's senior leadership and the elimination of diversity initiatives within the armed forces. Dismissing the impeachment effort as a politically motivated attack, Hegseth vowed to continue carrying out his duties.

President Donald Trump also defended Hegseth's performance while speaking to reporters at the White House the same day, saying the defense secretary had done a "fantastic job." Trump dismissed suggestions that Hegseth might be replaced, arguing that opposition to his leadership was an inevitable consequence of changes to the military's senior ranks.

Opinions in Congress remain divided. Democrats, who secured a majority in the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, have pledged to hold extensive hearings in the next Congress to scrutinize Hegseth's handling of military operations and personnel decisions.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has publicly questioned whether Hegseth should remain in office, while lawmakers serving on the Armed Services Committee plan to closely examine the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the legality of military operations at sea.

Within the Republican Party, concerns and criticism have also emerged alongside more cautious responses. Representative Thomas Massie has stepped up pressure by announcing plans to reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Senator Thom Tillis, meanwhile, warned that tensions between the Pentagon and Congress could complicate passage of the administration's proposed $1.5 trillion (approximately 2,034 trillion won) defense budget.

Vice President JD Vance has also raised questions about the political and military effectiveness of the Iran operations in connection with the recent election results, suggesting that debate over Hegseth's performance is likely to continue both within and outside the administration.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun