Former Obama Speechwriter Jon Lovett Backs Impeaching Pete Hegseth Over Iran War

Jon Lovett, a Pod Save America host and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be impeached over the Iran war. Fellow host Tommy Vietor cautioned in the same conversation that the move could strengthen Hegseth's standing with President Donald Trump's base.

The exchange, in an episode recorded Monday, came as Hegseth faces growing anger from congressional Republicans over the war's cost and his handling of it. Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie is already forcing a House impeachment vote, as host Jon Favreau noted on the show.

The hosts were debating strategy for Democrats, not announcing any party position.

Why Pete Hegseth Faces GOP Anger Over the Iran War

Hegseth is seeking $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon next year, an increase of more than 40 percent, plus another $88 billion for the Iran war and weapons, Semafor reported Sunday under the headline "Republicans fuming at Hegseth as war costs build." North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis told the outlet the secretary's problem "comes down to relationships, and I don't think he's built strong enough relationships."

NBC News reported Sunday evening that an Iranian cruise missile injured eight Marines aboard a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on September 14. The Pentagon had not disclosed the attack. According to the report, the Marines were not seriously injured but suffered smoke inhalation and possible traumatic brain injuries, with concussion symptoms such as headaches.

Many Senate Democrats signaled last week that an impeachment push against Hegseth would be a worthwhile use of political capital, Punchbowl News reported. The outlet also reported that the House vote on Massie's effort will not happen until after the midterms.

Jon Lovett Calls Massie's Case 'Persuasive'

Favreau asked whether impeachment would be a "Good use or bad use of a congressional majority?" Lovett said it was "worth reading the Massie impeachment recommendations because, boy, are they persuasive."

Lovett called Hegseth one of the war's biggest advocates and argued that "to make him the avatar for it is a good idea." He added, "I'm open to arguments against it," and then gave an emphatic, expletive-laden yes to impeachment.

He pointed out that part of Massie's case rests on the country having gone to war without congressional authorization, and said new war funding would amount to authorization after the fact. Proceedings, he argued, would let Democrats "put the secretary of defense on trial to find out what was going on behind the scenes." About Hegseth testifying before senators, he said: "He's going to be so cocky and arrogant about it. And it is going to be so revealing. And he's going to be such a bad witness."

Tommy Vietor Weighs Oversight Hearings Against Impeachment

Vietor, a former Obama spokesman, was less certain. "I hope Democrats do a ton of oversight hearings about the Iran war to drive attention to it," he said. He argued that impeachment is in theory a stronger tool for obtaining documents and subpoenas, but that in practice the administration would resist every request. "I don't know whether impeachment is better than just a straight set of oversight hearings, but something."

He also raised a risk on the Republican side.

"Impeachment probably does galvanize MAGA support for Hegseth and probably emboldens him to run for president." — Tommy Vietor

He still ended on the side of action: "Do everything you possibly can to end the war. If it's impeachment, do it."

Favreau put the choice in terms of the goal: "Ultimate goal is to end the war." He said a Democratic Congress would likely try another war powers resolution first, which he expected Trump to ignore. He described cutting off war funding as the ideal next step, "but that's probably a hard vote, too."

Iran War Polls and the Pentagon Budget

Vietor said that "asking for $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon is wildly unpopular," and the data support him. A YouGov survey conducted May 6–8 with ReThink Media and the Costs of War Project found 59 percent of registered voters called the budget too high. Twenty-five percent said it was about right.

The war itself polls poorly too. The Silver Bulletin page shows support at 33 percent and opposition at 59 percent as of Monday. Democrats lead by 7.5 points on the generic congressional ballot in PolitiKool's polling average.

The Donald Rumsfeld Precedent

Favreau pointed to 2006, when Republicans lost badly in the midterms over the Iraq war: "after that election, Don Rumsfeld was out." President George W. Bush announced Rumsfeld's resignation on November 8, 2006, the day after Democrats won the House.

This time, Favreau noted, "it's Pete Hegseth. That's his boy, right?"

What Happens Next

Massie's impeachment vote will wait until lawmakers return after the midterms. Whether Democrats would push their own impeachment case in a new Congress, and whether Senate Republicans would give Hegseth his budget, remains open.