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Hegseth Slams Impeachment Bid as 'Farce' and 'Stunt'
Confirmed
In Short: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment bid as a political spectacle and policy disagreement.
Pete Hegseth holds briefing as impeachment drumbeat continues. CNN
At a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the impeachment effort by outgoing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie a 'farce' and a 'stunt.'
Hegseth argued that previous administrations had also undertaken military operations without their defense chiefs facing impeachment, citing operations under former presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.
Hegseth accused Massie of being driven by ego and resentment, and compared the effort to previous failed impeachment attempts against former President Donald Trump.
Massie's 34-page resolution accuses Hegseth of overstepping his authority during the ongoing U.S. Conflicts in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela.
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.
Hegseth defended his performance, saying he would not be punished for his service, and accused Massie of suppressing free speech.
Other Republicans have not definitively ruled out impeachment but are awaiting further debate.
Hegseth's supporters, including Rep. Ralph Norman, R-South Carolina, have criticized the decision to cancel another day of votes as 'unacceptable.'
What this adds
Hegseth's supporters argue that the impeachment bid is driven by personal animus and dislike of the Trump administration's policies.
The ballooning costs of the Iran conflict could be as high as $100 billion, adding to the frustration in Congress over the lack of information provided by Hegseth.
Background
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) acknowledged Friday that Republican lawmakers have 'a lot of questions' about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) prepares to push for his impeachment next week.
What's confirmed
- Massie’s 34-page resolution accuses Hegseth of overstepping his authority during the ongoing U.S.
What's still developing
- Calling the impeachment effort politically motivated, Hegseth said it was being driven by a "disgruntled and defeated congressman" rather than genuine congressional oversight.
- In a fierce news conference early Wednesday, which began with a chilling warning to reporters that they stay “in line” or be thrown out, Hegseth railed against the outgoing Congressman as “disgruntled” and repeatedly defended his performance.
- Not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not offenses founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause.
- Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been frustrated by the amount and caliber of information Hegseth has provided them about the ballooning costs of the Iran conflict, which could be as high $100 billion, NBC news has reported.
- It's a political spectacle," Hegseth said. Massie, a fierce critic of Trump, is leaving office after losing a primary contest to a candidate backed by the president. Trump has backed Hegseth so far, and on Tuesday wrote on social media that the Pentagon chief "gets an 'A' PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense" against the impeachment efforts. Hegseth on Tuesday defended military interventions in Yemen, Iran and Venezuela as well as strikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. "These resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime.
- Wilson called Hegseth “a transformative leader” and said the Department of War remains unified behind him.
- 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.
- Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Sept. 16 that the decision to leave Washington earlier than planned was unrelated to the push to remove Hegseth.
- Hegseth “has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution, if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with his duties and the rule of law,” Massie said.
Sources
- Al Jazeeralink
- Asianet Newsablelink
- Daily Voice Of Asialink
- Fox Newslink
- India Todaylink
- Mediaitelink
- NBC Newslink
- The New Indian Expresslink
- Kwhnlink
- Justthenewslink
- Wgylink
- NBC Newslink
- France24link
- USA Todaylink
- Aollink
- CBS Newslink
- CNN — video link
- WKYC Channel 3 — video link
- FOX 10 Phoenix — video link
- NBC News — video link
- CNN — video link
- FOX 5 Washington DC — video link