Republican Rep. James Comer had few kind words for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Friday, placing the blame for GOP midterm losses on the war with Iran.
The Kentucky lawmaker was noncommittal when asked by NewsNation if Mr. Hegseth should be replaced as he faces an impeachment effort in the House and Senate Republicans have a narrow window to confirm new nominees.
“That’s going to be a decision that President Trump’s going to have to make, but I can tell you with a high level of confidence that there’s a lot of questions about Hegseth,” he said. “We have no idea what the strategy is moving forward in Iran.
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“No one’s happy about Iran, and I think the Republican voters are more upset about what’s going on in Iran than the Democrat voters. … They’re mad over gas prices and a lot of them stayed home.”
Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, has spearheaded an effort to impeach Mr. Hegseth on charges including waging unlawful wars and unlawfully killing alleged drug smugglers.
Mr. Comer has been a prominent figure in the GOP for the last six years as the top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
He has said he will comply with term limits, blocking him from continuing to lead his party on the committee in the next Congress.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hegseth has struck a defiant tone in response to Democrats’ push to oust him.
“It’s all about the politics of personal destruction. Didn’t work against President Trump and it won’t work with me,” Mr. Hegseth said in a video message posted on Thursday.
The president has stuck by the secretary, telling reporters on Thursday that Mr. Hegseth “has done a fantastic job.”
In January, Democrats will assume control of the House and Senate with wide majorities. Their caucus will hold at least 54 seats in the Senate.
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