Why Pete Hegseth survived impeachment and kept his job

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth survived an impeachment attempt on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump's full backing, after Democrats failed to show up for the vote. The failed effort has strengthened Hegseth's position rather than ending his tenure. Hegseth had faced months of speculation about his future, including clashes with Trump over munitions shortages in the Iran war and unilateral decisions on Ukraine and Romania. The midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of both chambers, shifted the White House's calculus toward defending its loyalists. The administration kept all but one House Republican in line, and Democrats lack the two-thirds Senate majority needed to convict Hegseth. Hegseth has framed the impeachment as a badge of honour, linking his plight to Trump's own impeachments.