Pete Hegseth defended the war with Iran and other military operations, while attacking Representative Thomas Massie, who filed the impeachment motion against him, saying Massie is trying to undermine the nation.
On Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 GMT+7, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth condemned the Republican member of the House of Representatives who filed the impeachment motion against him, vigorously defending his support for the war with Iran and other military operations.
“What this angry and defeated member of Congress is trying to do is not oversight or accountability, but a political spectacle—a personal statement driven by ego and resentment,” Hegseth said, one day after Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed an 8-count impeachment motion.
Hegseth stated he has conducted "lawful military operations" that were "successful," and noted no previous defense secretary has ever been impeached for such actions.
The defense secretary affirmed he stands "behind every military operation" carried out under Trump's orders and "will do so again tomorrow," despite criticism from both parties regarding his role in the Iran war.
“The impeachment motion is a joke and a publicity stunt, and everyone knows it,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon press conference, his first in six months.
The motion alleges Hegseth waged war without congressional approval, carried out extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers by attacking a ship in the Caribbean Sea, and suppressed freedom of expression by punishing Democratic Senator Mark Kelly for warning troops they have the right and duty to refuse "illegal orders."
Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican who lost his primary election after clashing with President Donald Trump, ignited this impeachment battle less than a week after the midterm elections, which saw a decisive Democratic victory securing majorities in both the House and Senate.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the impeachment procedure on Tuesday (10 Nov 2026 GMT+7). If approved, the measure will proceed to debate and further votes.
The impeachment motion is a special order, meaning the House must act by voting to reject it or referring it to a committee within two legislative working days.
Hegseth accused Massie of staging a “theatrical act” that sends a dangerous signal to U.S. enemies.
“It puts a target on the backs of American soldiers by signaling that Congress will undermine their missions in real time,” Hegseth said. “This is not patriotism; it is sabotage.”
When asked if he agreed with Vice President JD Vance’s statement that the main reason Republicans lost the midterms was the Iran war, Hegseth said he highly respects Vance and “of course I won’t join in blaming anyone.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump immediately expressed support for Hegseth by posting on Truth Social after Hegseth's press conference, saying the defense secretary "earned an A+++ grade for defending himself against the actions of former Representative Thomas Massie, who is angry, furious, defeated, and a total loser!"
If the House votes to impeach Hegseth, the Senate will conduct a trial and vote on whether to remove him from office, requiring a two-thirds majority to convict and remove. Historically, no U.S. defense secretary has ever been removed by the Senate.
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Source:cnbc