Hegseth Faces Impeachment Vote as House Prepares to Test Defiant Defense Chief
The Defense Secretary called the measure a political stunt while President Trump vowed to support him, setting the stage for a procedural showdown in the House.
By Jenna Mitchell ·
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces an imminent vote on impeachment articles introduced by a Kentucky Republican, a move the Pentagon chief is calling a calculated political attack. On Tuesday, Hegseth spent the day defending his record and mocking the legislative effort before the House prepares to cast its ballot.
Speaking at the Department of Defense, Hegseth labeled the resolution a farce and a personal manifesto driven by ego. He argued that the push is not about oversight or accountability but rather a display of resentment against President Donald Trump.
The Secretary of Defense suggested that the impeachment effort serves as a precursor to targeting the service members who participated in strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. He characterized the articles as partisan policy disagreements rather than high crimes or misdemeanors, noting that the House has a two-day window to schedule the vote under its rules.
Hegseth drew a direct comparison between his situation and the two impeachments of President Trump during the previous administration. He expressed comfort in that association, stating that if standing with the president places him in that company, he would take it every day. He also pointed out that the House never moved to impeach his predecessor, Lloyd Austin, during the Biden years.
In a social media post shortly after Hegseth’s remarks, President Trump praised his defense chief with an enthusiastic endorsement. The president wrote on Truth Social that Hegseth deserved an A plus for defending against what he called a disgruntled and defeated former congressman.
The renewed push for impeachment follows the midterms, where Republicans suffered sweeping losses. Many members of both parties attributed those defeats to the ongoing conflict with Iran and rising energy prices. Massie, who introduced the updated articles on Monday, accused Hegseth of launching the war without congressional approval and ignoring laws intended to limit civilian casualties.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stated on Monday that he is a hard yes on the resolution. He described Hegseth as the architect of a reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. Jeffries, who represents New York, told reporters that the Defense Secretary abused his power.
The outcome of the vote will hinge on the willingness of a small number of Republicans to break with their party. Massie said on Monday that he has not secured commitments from other GOP members to support the articles. With Democrats holding a majority, the measure requires at least three Republican votes to pass, assuming all Democrats support it and accounting for any absences.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told CBS News that impeaching a Cabinet secretary during active hostilities abroad would be a terrible look. However, other Republicans have not ruled out the move. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he is wrestling with the decision, questioning whether he should be impeached simply for not being a good secretary.
The House is expected to hold a procedural vote to table the measure before taking up the full resolution on Tuesday evening. Massie has challenged Hegseth to address the eight articles of impeachment from a podium, asking him to explain why he is not guilty of each charge.
