Hegseth calls impeachment a spectacle ahead of House vote

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his position at the Pentagon on Tuesday, describing the effort to impeach him as a political move that undermines American troops in the field. He held his first news conference there in six months to address the resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie. Hegseth characterized the action as a political spectacle driven by personal ego rather than a response to high crimes.

Rep. Massie, a Republican who lost his Kentucky primary last week, filed the impeachment resolution on Monday. The text cites Hegseth’s management of the ongoing war in Iran and operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and in Venezuela. Massie stated that the Iran conflict has continued for 256 days without congressional authorization. He argued that the War Powers Act requires a withdrawal from hostilities within 60 days if Congress does not approve the activity, calling Hegseth’s leadership a breach of the law.

Hegseth rejected this framing, stating that the resolution lists policy disagreements rather than impeachable offenses. He said the founders intended the impeachment clause for specific acts such as treason or bribery. Hegseth noted that the resolution tells enemies like Iran and cartels that the United States will punish its own leaders for executing lawful military orders. He warned that this action is not patriotism but sabotage.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both publicly supported Hegseth on social media. Trump called the former congressman a total loser and gave Hegseth an A-plus rating for his defense. Vance described the impeachment effort as a ridiculous show that replaces actual policymaking. Hegseth also released a video last week arguing that the process is about personal destruction and that it will not work on him.

House Speaker Mike Johnson called the move a political gambit for attention. He predicted that Republicans would defeat the resolution one way or the other. A vote on whether to proceed with the impeachment is expected later Tuesday. Many Republicans blamed their losses in last week’s midterm elections on the economic impact of the Iran conflict, creating pressure on the party to act despite the uncertainty of next steps.

Hegseth argued that no defense secretary has been impeached in the nation’s 250-year history for carrying out lawful military operations. The last Cabinet secretary to face impeachment was Alejandro Mayorkas during the Biden administration. Mayorkas was impeached over border security issues, but the Senate dismissed all charges before the trial began. Before Mayorkas, the previous impeachment of a Cabinet secretary occurred nearly 150 years ago with William Belknap, who resigned before the vote.

The conflict in Iran remains central to the debate. Trump told reporters on Monday that the war is militarily effectively over and that Tehran would love to make a deal. However, Iran has continued to strike U.S. military bases in the Middle East and has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. These actions have driven up global oil prices during the more than eight-month-old conflict. Pentagon political appointees have shared images of Hegseth with the message to stand, fight, and defend the republic.

Hegseth’s defense focused on the legal standard for removal. He emphasized that the Constitution does not spell out the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors. This leaves the determination to lawmakers. The upcoming House vote will test whether the majority agrees with Massie’s interpretation of the War Powers Act. The outcome will determine if the process moves to the Senate for a trial.