US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has formally dismissed the impeachment push against him, characterizing the attempt by Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie as a “political spectacle” and a “show trial.” During a press conference on Tuesday, Hegseth defended his tenure, arguing that the effort to impeach him for allegedly waging war without congressional authorization and abusing his powers is merely a move by political opponents of Donald Trump. After losing to a Trump-backed rival in the Republican primary for his seat earlier this year, massie is an outgoing congressman. According to hegseth, The effort lacked support among Republicans.
“It’s a farce, and it’s a stunt, and everybody knows it,” Hegseth declared. He cautioned that the resolution places a target on the backs of military personnel, arguing that the action undermines national security and serves as a form of sabotage rather than a patriotic endeavor. According to he, The US military does not target civilians, calling the allegation a “lie” and “slander”.
The impeachment resolution, a 34-page document introduced by Massie on Monday, centers primarily on military actions in Iran. The tally showed 399 total votes made by lawmakers, with a majority coming from Democrats, on Monday night.
It includes eight articles, three of which rely on the 1973 War Powers Resolution, accusing Hegseth of acting without a declaration of war, statutory authorization, or evidence of an imminent threat against the United States.
Additional articles address military strikes in Yemen, his professional conduct regarding Senator Mark Kelly, and claims that he ignored standards designed to minimize civilian casualties.
Hegseth rejected these allegations entirely, describing the claims concerning civilian targets as “lies” and “slander.” He maintained that every operational decision, including strikes in Iran and Yemen, the interception of alleged drug vessels, and the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, was conducted lawfully under presidential orders with proper congressional notification. He framed his record as one of success, suggesting the impeachment is a response to that success rather than any failure.
The procedural path for the resolution is narrow. Massie filed it as a privileged resolution, requiring the House to act within two legislative days. While House Speaker Mike Johnson previously labeled the effort a “stunt” and successfully staved off a vote in September, the political landscape has become more volatile following the November 3 midterm elections. With a thin 218-214 Republican majority, the potential for a successful impeachment vote remains, particularly as members who lost their seats may be absent from Washington. Likely after first holding a procedural vote to table the measure, the House is expected to take up the resolution Tuesday evening. Saying his team had worked with House speaker Mike Johnson, and described Massie as “one disgruntled guy”, he claimed a “ton of support” on Capitol Hill. But the political ground has shifted since the 3 November midterms. Several House Republicans told Fox News privately that they believe the impeachment could pass, citing a mix of resentment toward Hegseth and absences among members who lost their seats. In September, the House voted 220-204 to end Trump’s war in Iran, with seven Republicans joining Democrats.
If the House were to vote to impeach, Hegseth would become only the third cabinet secretary in history to face such a proceeding. A conviction would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, a body set to be under Democratic control in the next Congress. Massie indicated that a formal trial might not commence until 2027.
Hegseth emphasized that his focus remains on the current lame-duck period, aiming to secure at least $350 billion in defense funding through reconciliation before the Trump administration’s term ends in 2028. He concluded his remarks by urging military troops to remain focused and ignore the ongoing political noise, describing the proceedings as a “circus” that distracts from their core duties.
