House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has thrown his full support behind an impending Republican-led effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, declaring himself a “hard yes” in a fiery Sunday interview and accusing the Cabinet official of endangering national security through “reckless” foreign policy decisions.
Democrats Align Behind Impeachment Push
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Jeffries didn’t hesitate when host Jonathan Karl asked whether Democrats would back Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) expected impeachment resolution. “I’m a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution,” Jeffries said. “The so-called secretary of defense has abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran.”
The minority leader framed the move as both a national security imperative and a campaign promise fulfilled, vowing accountability for what he called “unprecedented corruption” by the “Trump cartel.” While stopping short of guaranteeing unified Democratic support, Jeffries predicted “incredibly strong” backing when lawmakers discuss the measure Tuesday.
Impeachment Grounds: Iran War and Economic Fallout
Jeffries leveled particularly sharp criticism at Hegseth’s handling of Middle East policy, blaming him for a conflict that “skyrocketed prices on the American people and made the country less safe.” The remarks suggest Democrats will tie impeachment not just to constitutional concerns but to kitchen-table economic issues ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The Defense Secretary faces intensifying bipartisan scrutiny over his management of military operations against Iran, with critics arguing the prolonged engagement—initiated without congressional authorization—has drained resources while failing to achieve strategic objectives. Massie’s forthcoming resolution marks the first formal attempt to remove Hegseth since his controversial Senate confirmation in 2025.
Neither the White House nor Hegseth’s office immediately responded to requests for comment, but the Secretary has previously defended his record by citing intelligence about Iranian nuclear ambitions and vowing to “pursue peace through strength.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/11/08/hakeem-jeffries-im-a-hard-yes-on-the-hegseth-impeachment-resolution/