Pete Hegseth could pay the political price for a war Donald Trump chose to launch. Vice-President JD Vance has blamed the conflict with Iran for Republicans losing both chambers of Congress, and a Republican-led impeachment push has put the defence secretary’s future in question. The election evidence points to a broader failure. Voters turned towards Democrats amid anger over the cost of living and a widespread belief that Trump’s own policies had made it worse.
Why Hegseth is an easier target
Trump has publicly credited Hegseth with urging military action against Iran. Some Republicans now question whether the Pentagon went into the conflict with a credible exit strategy. Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, says he intends to force a House vote. Among his allegations is that Hegseth abused his office by launching hostilities without congressional approval.
Trump said on Wednesday that he was satisfied with Hegseth’s performance and was not considering replacing him. Even so, focusing blame on the defence secretary offers Republicans a way to criticise the conduct of the war while spending less time on the president’s decision to start it.
What voters were rejecting
The war mattered at home because it drove up petrol prices. But households were already facing higher prices after Trump imposed sweeping tariffs. About nine in ten voters in the AP Voter Poll said the cost of living was a major or crucial factor in their congressional vote, and roughly two-thirds said Trump’s policies had fuelled inflation. In a separate survey reported by The Washington Post, the economy and jobs ranked ahead of healthcare, the Iran war and immigration. Democrats held a 15-point advantage among voters who named the economy and jobs as a top issue.
Where a congressional inquiry should look
Hearings could establish what Hegseth told Trump about the likely duration of the war, what Congress knew before strikes began and whether the Pentagon planned for a prolonged conflict. Those questions go to Hegseth’s responsibility for the war. They leave Republicans with a separate electoral question. Trump returned to office promising to bring prices down, and voters largely judged that his policies had pushed them higher. Replacing his defence secretary would leave that verdict unanswered.
Newshub Editorial in North America – 5 November 2026
Pete Hegseth could pay the political price for a war Donald Trump chose to launch. Vice-President JD Vance has blamed the conflict with Iran for Republicans losing both chambers of Congress, and a Republican-led impeachment push has put the defence secretary’s future in question. The election evidence points to a broader failure. Voters turned towards Democrats amid anger over the cost of living and a widespread belief that Trump’s own policies had made it worse.
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