Hegseth Defends Pentagon Against Impeachment Bid as House Vote Looms
The defense secretary called the effort a political spectacle, while a House vote is expected later Tuesday to determine if the process moves forward.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected the push to remove him from office on Tuesday, labeling the effort a political spectacle that weakens American troops. He held his first Pentagon news conference in six months to address the growing threat of impeachment. A House vote to decide if the process continues is scheduled for later in the day.
The move targets Hegseth’s management of the ongoing conflict with Iran. It also references military actions in Yemen and Venezuela. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed the resolution on Monday. Massie lost his primary to a Trump-backed opponent last week. He argued that Hegseth’s actions constitute high crimes and misdemeanors that warrant removal.
Hegseth countered that the issues are policy disagreements, not the constitutional offenses required for impeachment. He stated that the resolution is not about treason or bribery. Instead, he said it targets lawful military operations. He warned that the process signals to adversaries like Iran that the United States punishes its own leadership for executing orders.
"This is not patriotism," Hegseth said. "This is sabotage." He claimed the effort undermines forces in real time. He described the resolution as a personal manifesto driven by ego. He noted that no defense secretary has been impeached in 250 years for carrying out lawful operations.
President Donald Trump backed Hegseth with a post on Truth Social. He called the former representative a total loser. Trump said Hegseth deserves an A plus for his defense. The president told reporters on Monday that the Iran war is militarily over. He repeated his claim that Tehran wants to make a deal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the effort a political gambit. He predicted Republicans would defeat the measure. The resolution puts pressure on the party following midterm losses. Many members blame those losses on the economic impact of the war. The next steps remain uncertain as the House prepares to vote.
This is not the first recent attempt to remove a Cabinet official. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced impeachment from House Republicans in 2024 over border policy. The Senate dismissed those charges before arguments began. Before Mayorkas, the last Cabinet secretary to face impeachment was William Belknap in the 1870s.
