WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday rejected Rep. Thomas Massie’s push to impeach him, calling it a political spectacle and arguing that the accusations amount to policy disputes, not impeachable offenses. The House could begin considering the resolution as soon as Tuesday, with a procedural vote expected to determine whether lawmakers debate the charges or block them.
At his first Pentagon news conference in six months, Hegseth said impeachment would undermine U.S. troops and give the country’s adversaries ammunition. “This is not patriotism,” he said. “This is sabotage.” He also declared that he stood behind the administration’s military operations and “would do it again tomorrow.”
Massie, a Kentucky Republican who lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, reintroduced eight impeachment articles on Monday. Three accuse Hegseth of waging the Iran war without congressional authorization and continuing it after Congress and the War Powers Resolution set limits on military action. The remaining articles allege that Hegseth disregarded civilian-protection laws, oversaw unlawful killings in strikes on suspected drug boats, retaliated against Sen. Mark Kelly for protected speech, directed the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and launched military operations in Yemen without authorization. These are Massie’s allegations; Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.
Massie says the House should judge the alleged conduct rather than Hegseth’s popularity or the merits of the Iran campaign. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said he supports impeachment. But the resolution needs Republican votes while the GOP still controls the chamber. Leaders can try to refer or table it before members vote on the articles themselves.
Even if the House impeaches Hegseth, that vote would not remove him from office. The Senate would need to convict him by a two-thirds majority to remove him. Republicans control the Senate through the end of this Congress; Democrats are set to take control in January.
President Donald Trump defended Hegseth after the briefing, praising his performance and attacking Massie. The Pentagon’s top spokesman said Hegseth intends to remain in his post through the end of Trump’s term.
The dispute follows Republicans’ losses in the Nov. 3 midterms, after voters focused on the Iran war and its economic effects, including higher energy costs. The conflict has continued for more than eight months, with U.S. forces still conducting intermittent operations. Iran has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has described the war as “militarily” over, while military activity and the shipping disruption continue.
Hegseth did not address each of Massie’s eight charges individually at the briefing. Instead, he argued that lawmakers should challenge military policy through debate, legislation and elections. The House’s next procedural move will determine whether members take up the impeachment articles before Republicans leave control of the chamber in January.
