Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blasted his critics on Tuesday as the U.S. House of Representatives moves closer to impeaching President Donald Trump’s top Cabinet official.
“What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it’s not accountability. It’s a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment,” Hegseth said as he began his Tuesday morning press conference.
On Monday, outgoing Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors” over his handling of the war in Iran, U.S. military operations in Yemen and the Caribbean, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and the Pentagon’s scrutiny of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Massie introduced the articles as a privileged resolution, requiring House leadership to bring the measure forward for action within two legislative days, The Daily Wire previously reported.
In a defiant tone, Hegseth defended his record in the Trump administration and argued that a successful impeachment effort would jeopardize national security.
“It puts a target on the backs of American warriors by signaling that Congress will undermine their missions in real time,” he said. “This is not patriotism. This is sabotage.”
He also argued that all military operations were ordered by President Trump, approved through the proper chain of command, reported to Congress and carried out by U.S. service members.
“For the first time in American history, a cabinet secretary overseeing America’s military is being attacked not for losing conflicts with our enemies, but for winning them,” he said. Hegseth acknowledged that at least 18 U.S. service members have been killed since the military campaign began.
On Truth Social, Trump defended his embattled cabinet secretary. “Pete Hegseth gets an “A” PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie,” Trump said, calling the Republican “a TOTAL LOSER!”
Massie, who lost his primary earlier this year to Trump-backed challenger and eventual general election winner Ed Gallrein, is set to leave Congress in January. His impeachment effort represents one of his final major confrontations with an administration he has repeatedly challenged.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) warned that it appears “the votes are there” to impeach Hegseth.
“Either Hegseth is going to step down, either he will resign voluntarily, or Trump will fire him, or, if that does not happen, I think it is extremely likely, if not certain, that the House will impeach him because, on the face of it, the votes are there,” Cruz said on Monday.
Later Tuesday, the House is expected to hold a procedural vote that will offer a clearer picture of whether Massie has enough Republican support to advance impeachment proceedings against Hegseth. Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-214 majority, and the Republican-controlled Senate could refuse to take up the charges. If the House approves the articles, Hegseth would become only the third Cabinet secretary in American history to be impeached.
But even if Tuesday’s effort fails, the impeachment push could gain momentum under the incoming Democratic majority. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the frontrunner to become the next Speaker, has already declared he is a “hard yes” on impeaching Hegseth.
This is a developing story; stay with The Daily Wire for updates.
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