Eric Swalwell’s Latest Move Against Pete Hegseth Backfires

The rush to pile on U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a damning national security lapse caused Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) to expose his flank while attempting an attack, provoking ridicule and catcalls of hypocrisy across the internet.

Swalwell, who went from Democratic back-bencher to nationwide name after it was discovered he was romantically involved with a Chinese government spy, sounded pithy as he asked rhetorically whether Hegseth had resigned. The defense secretary is alleged to have shared “war plans” in a group chat of Trump officials where a liberal reporter was inadvertently invited to join.

“Wait. Pete Hegseth hasn’t resigned yet?” Swalwell wrote on X.

The irony was too much for conservative influencers, who called him out almost immediately.

Chaya Raichik, creator of the popular Libs of TikTok account, quoted the congressman’s post, writing, “Didn’t you bang a Chinese spy???”

Other commentators were similarly unsparing in their mocking of Swalwell as they replied directly to his post.

“You didn’t after Fang Fang,” wrote one account, using the nickname given to his former girlfriend by GOP colleagues who have provoked Swalwell into public outbursts over the allegation.

Another agreed, writing, “Did he sleep with a Chinese spy too? Well, I guess that’s not ‘resign’ worthy.”

“You may want to sit this one out Eric,” a third noted.

The Swalwell schadenfreude comes exactly one year after Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) accused the California Democrat of hypocrisy. During a congressional hearing on Chinese government efforts to infiltrate the Biden-Harris administration, Waltz claimed Swalwell “knows a thing or two about how China penetrates our government.”

Swalwell, an ally of Biden, was previously investigated by the House Ethics Committee after his partner Christine Fang was named as a suspect in an investigation into Chinese spy programs inside the United States. Fang was believed to have targeted Swalwell’s campaign and up-and-coming politicians in California, according to The Hill.

Rep. Swalwell cooperated with the FBI in its investigation and was cleared of wrongdoing in 2023, but his opponents continue to wield the Chinese spy jokes as a cudgel to silence the previously vocal progressive. He has been heckled at town halls in his district and had public meltdowns after GOP colleagues have previously made jokes at his expense.

His criticism of Hegseth is just the latest in a string of Democratic lawmakers attempting to pressure President Donald Trump to dump his defense secretary. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday denounced the attacks and accused the reporter involved of relying on “sensationalist spin” to push the claim that “war plans” were shared hours before the administration launched bombing runs over Yemen.

The non-classified leak was “completely outrageous and shocks the conscience,” House Minority Leaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters on Monday, adding Hegseth “has got to be the most unqualified person ever to lead the Pentagon in American history.”

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), no doubt grateful to have a pivot point after facing his own intra-party calls to resign, said, “This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time.”