US defence secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed an attempt to impeach him on Wednesday, calling it a "political spectacle" and accusing the Republican congressman who initiated the vote of seeking a "staged trial".
Hegseth stated that it was a "farce and a trick" and that he was being pursued by Donald Trump's political opponents. "This is a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and bitterness. It is time for one man, in his final days in Congress, to try to harm this president, this country and, most irresponsibly, the soldiers who defend it," Hegseth said.
Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday. Massie is a congressman bidding farewell to his term after losing his party's primary earlier this year to a candidate supported by Trump. Hegseth was accused of illegally waging war without congressional approval and abusing his powers.
The defence secretary claimed the charges were baseless and that all strikes were carried out legally. "Iran, the cartels, Maduro, Yemen, all of these were lawful operations ordered by the commander-in-chief, then by me, of which Congress was informed and which were executed by American soldiers doing their job," he said. He added: "We destroyed the capabilities of terrorist regimes. We sank ships that were transporting poison into our communities. We put a narco-dictator in handcuffs. These are not serious criminal offences. This is work, and it is work well done."
Hegseth assessed that Massie's resolution represented merely a "disagreement over policy" that should be resolved through legislation and debate. "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, nor is it accountability," he said. He also claimed the move "puts a target on the backs of American soldiers" because, as he put it, "it signals that Congress will undermine their missions in real time". "This is not patriotism. This is sabotage," he stated.
Donald Trump gave a brief assessment of his defence secretary's performance, while simultaneously attacking the Republican congressman launching the impeachment. On Truth Social, he wrote: "Pete Hegseth gets an 'A' PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defence against disgruntled, angry, defeated former congressman Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!"
Hegseth also addressed criticism within the party. Several Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, stated that the party's poor result in the elections was due to the war with Iran and a spike in prices. "I have immense respect for the vice president and certainly will not engage in blame-shifting. And fortunately, politics is not really my thing," Hegseth said. He added that he agreed with the president, who said: "If I had to do it all over again, would we do it again? Absolutely."
He recalled the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the war, which is now in its eighth month, "is not necessarily popular, but it may have been necessary". "That is certainly how I feel. It was a necessary undertaking," Hegseth said. He told journalists at the Pentagon that the media ignore military successes: "You hate the president more than you love our country or our soldiers."
Since the introduction of the articles of impeachment on Monday, the House of Representatives now has until Wednesday to consider them. The House can hold a vote on the floor, decide to send the resolution to a committee, or reject it entirely. A vote could take place as early as today.
