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Hegseth Denies Impeachment Efforts at First Pentagon Press Conference in Over Six Months
Confirmed
In Short: Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, dismissed impeachment efforts against him during his first Pentagon press conference in over 180 days.
Live: Sec. Pete Hegseth Holds Pentagon Press Briefing Amongst Rumors of Impeachment! - 11/10/26. Right Side Broadcasting Network
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, dismissed impeachment efforts against him during his first Pentagon press conference in over 180 days, calling them a 'farce' and 'stunt.' He framed the ongoing war on Iran as a victory and defended his actions as lawful and effective.
Hegseth argued that the impeachment efforts were driven by policy disagreements and personal resentment, rather than high crimes or offenses. He emphasized that he was '100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office.'
During the press conference, Hegseth noted that only two other cabinet secretaries have been impeached in US history, most recently Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. He warned that impeachment would put a 'target on the backs of American warriors,' undermining their missions.
Hegseth also defended the Iran war, stating that it was a lawful operation ordered by the commander-in-chief and executed by American warriors. He highlighted that 18 American service members had been killed since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026.
The impeachment resolution, led by Republican Thomas Massie, includes eight articles of impeachment, accusing Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Massie argues that the Iran war was 'unlawful from its inception,' as the law requires withdrawal from hostilities within 60 days without congressional authorization.
Despite Democrats holding a majority in the Senate, they are expected to have only about 54 seats, short of the 67 votes needed to convict and remove Hegseth. Congressman Massie plans to push for a vote on the impeachment resolution in the House.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Paris for a G7 meeting, said Hegseth had done a 'great job' and described the impeachment proceedings as 'unfair.' However, top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, expected to be the next House Speaker, said he was 'a hard yes' for impeaching Hegseth.
Hegseth released a video on social media last week, arguing that impeachment would be 'all about the politics of personal destruction' and that 'won’t work with me.' He also warned that if they 'want to come for the warriors, they’re going to have to come through me.'
What's confirmed
- “This is not patriotism,” Hegseth said, in his first Pentagon news conference in over six months.
What's still developing
- Pete Hegseth takes questions from reporters during a news conference at the Pentagon on November 10, 2026.
- The secretary further argued that impeachment is not a proper remedy for policy disagreements and that his critics should pursue legislation instead.
- “[Trump] did not kick the can; he kicked their teeth in.” Whatever the outcome of Massie’s impeachment motion, which is scheduled to undergo a test vote later Tuesday, Democrats are likely to resurrect proceedings against Hegseth if he is not ousted before the new Congress is sworn in Jan.
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday called moves to impeach him over abuse of power in the Iran war a farce that would fail.
- “In the 250 years of our American republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defence has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations,” Hegseth told reporters.
- Issued on: 10/11/2026 - 14:32 Modified: 10/11/2026 - 14:49 Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dug in for a fight Tuesday against his potential impeachment in Congress, telling reporters that a rogue lawmaker is targeting him over “policy disagreements” and not the high crimes or offenses the nation’s founders intended.