Hegseth faces historic impeachment bid in Congress

Thomas Massie, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Kentucky, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth during a congressional session on Monday (November 9).

The charges include directing unauthorized military operations in Iran, unilaterally dismissing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior military officials, and instigating a sedition case against Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.

Under congressional procedure, House members are slated to vote on the articles over the next two days. Speaking to reporters, Massie warned his fellow Republican lawmakers that party leadership might attempt to bypass a direct floor vote by using procedural maneuvers.

"They may try to avoid voting directly on the merits," Massie said during a press conference. "But we should take votes on these eight articles of impeachment, and there needs to be a rigorous debate."

Congressional insiders note that while the Republican Party retains its House majority until Democrats assume control on 3 January, enough bipartisan friction exists to make the vote contentious. However, convicting Hegseth in the Senate remains unlikely, as it requires a two-thirds supermajority in a chamber where Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump threw his full support behind Hegseth in an interview with Reuters on Monday. Pointing to US military engagements in Iran and Venezuela, Trump asked, "He has won two wars. I don't understand how you can impeach him."

At a subsequent White House press conference, Trump vowed to stand by Hegseth even if impeached, while dismissing Representative Massie as a "stone-cold loser."

Trump defended his defense chief by drawing comparisons to past prolonged conflicts, stating, "What about the individuals involved in wars like Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq—where we fought for years with no outcome—why weren't they impeached?"

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticized the impeachment push, calling it unjust. Conversely, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the broader Democratic caucus have strongly backed Massie's resolution.

For his part, Pete Hegseth stated that he is unconcerned by the proceedings, pointing to President Trump's own experiences. In a statement on Monday, the Defense Secretary remarked, "President Trump faced impeachment twice; it didn't work in his case, and it won't work in mine."

Historically, only one US Defense Secretary has ever faced impeachment. In 1876, William Belknap was impeached by Congress over widespread corruption and bribery allegations, forcing his resignation. If Massie's resolution succeeds in the House, it would mark the first time a US defense chief has faced impeachment in 150 years.