Fact Check: Did a poll show most Americans wanted Pete Hegseth impeached and prosecuted?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid pressure on the Trump administration due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that most Americans want Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to be impeached, sparking speculation.

Let us analyze the viral rumor and fact-check its authenticity.

Claim: 75% Americans want Pete Hegseth impeached

According to the viral claim, 75 percent of Americans want Pete Hegseth impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned, according to a poll by CNN.

The claim has been circulating on social media platforms for a month and has spread across X, Facebook, and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

The posts have sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing support for the impeachment and others criticizing the alleged move, indicating that many believe the claim to be authentic. A few others remained skeptical and questioned its authenticity, calling for a fact check.

Fact Check: CNN never made such a claim

However, the claim is false, as there are no polls or surveys indicating that the majority of Americans want Hegseth to be impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned.

There is no such report by CNN supporting the claim, as a search of its website yielded no results.

Although an article of impeachment was introduced against the defense secretary, a Google search for the claim yielded no credible reports from other prominent news outlets, which would likely have widely covered the matter if it were true.

A fact check by Grok confirmed this, stating, “No, this is not true. CNN did not report that 75% of Americans want Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth impeached, prosecuted, and imprisoned. This is a viral exaggeration/misrepresentation circulating on social media (including this post and similar ones).”

Democrats push to impeach Pete Hegseth over Iran war allegations

The impeachment effort against Hegseth is being led by Yassamin Ansari and centers on claims of misconduct during the Iran conflict and concerns about leadership.

While the resolution is unlikely to advance in the current House, it marks a significant escalation in Democratic criticism. The impeachment resolution presents six separate accusations, collectively arguing that Hegseth’s actions amount to “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

At the core of the filing are claims that he oversaw an unauthorized military campaign linked to Iran and placed American service members at risk.

Lawmakers also allege violations of the law of armed conflict, including incidents involving civilian casualties. One such episode cited in the resolution is a February strike in Iran that reportedly hit a girls’ school.