A composite image of Hakeem Jeffries on the left and Pete Hegseth on the rightImage source, EPA/Reuters
Image caption,

Hakeem Jeffries (left) made the comments after Pete Hegseth (right) released a video doubling down on his record as defence secretary

ByBrandon DrenonReporting fromWashington DC
  • Published8 November 2026, 19:36 GMT
Updated 1 hour ago

The frontrunner to lead the US House of Representatives after Democrats take control of Congress in January has said he is "a hard yes" for impeaching Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries told ABC's programme This Week that Hegseth had "abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran".