Republican figures are stepping away from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following the party's midterm defeat, and impeachment proceedings against him could begin as soon as next week, according to Italian media reports. ANSA reported that Republicans have "unloaded" Hegseth and that an impeachment process may be launched in the coming days. Corriere della Sera described the post-midterm situation at the White House as a reckoning, with Hegseth — referred to as the "warrior" — now at risk. RaiNews also reported that Republicans are distancing themselves from Hegseth after the midterms.
Coverage of the same developments varied. Il Sole 24 ORE, citing the New York Times, described Trump as now "unpredictable." The Giornale di Brescia, by contrast, reported that Trump said he is not considering replacing Hegseth and that the defense secretary is doing a great job.
The reports, dated Thursday, November 5, 2026, offer limited detail on what specific conduct or disputes underlie the impeachment threat, and none of the outlets cited here provided further explanation in the material available.
What to watch next: whether formal impeachment steps against Hegseth are actually filed next week, and whether Trump maintains his public support for him if they are.
