Pete Hegseth has spent much of his time as defense secretary defending the Trump administration’s military decisions. Now, those decisions have put his own position under threat.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of serious abuses of power and unlawful conduct in directing U.S. military operations.
Speaking at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Hegseth dismissed the effort as “a political spectacle” and accused Massie of trying to damage President Donald Trump and undermine American troops.
“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.
Massie has accused the defense secretary of abusing his office through military operations that he argues were unlawful, particularly the war against Iran. The resolution also addresses operations in Yemen and Venezuela, along with other allegations involving Hegseth’s conduct at the Pentagon.
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Hegseth’s response was to defend every operation listed in the impeachment articles.
“I stand behind every one of these operations. I was proud to execute them, and I would do it again tomorrow,” he said.
He also insisted that the military actions had been properly authorized. “Iran, the cartels, Maduro, Yemen, everyone was a lawful operation ordered by the commander-in-chief, then ordered by myself, notified to Congress and executed by American warriors who did their jobs,” he said.
Hegseth notes that everything he did was “ordered by the commander in chief”
(he was just following orders, you see) https://t.co/8vmyOfppf2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 10, 2026
Massie’s argument is that the administration cannot simply launch military operations and expect Congress to accept them without a fight. His resolution accuses Hegseth of knowingly carrying out unlawful orders and introducing American forces into hostilities without the necessary congressional authorization.
One of the most serious allegations concerns a February strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, that killed scores of children. The resolution also addresses military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats and the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Massie argues that Hegseth’s actions amount to “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
Hegseth has tried to turn the accusation back on the lawmakers pursuing his removal.
Referring to Veterans Day, he said the impeachment effort sends a damaging message to the people serving in uniform. “On the eve of Veterans Day, these resolutions tell every one of them that their service was a crime,” he said.
He went further, declaring: “This is not patriotism. This is sabotage.” He also told reporters, “If they want to come for the warriors, they’re going to have to come through me.”
President Donald Trump has made clear that Hegseth still has his support.
After the Pentagon briefing, Trump praised his defense secretary on Truth Social, giving him an “A” PLUS, PLUS, PLUS” and calling Massie a “TOTAL LOSER!”
Trump: “Pete Hegseth gets an ‘A’ PLUS, PLUS, PLUS for his defense against a disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman, Thomas Massie, a TOTAL LOSER!” https://t.co/hT5ccAF7fM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 10, 2026
The political situation is not particularly comfortable for the administration. Republicans suffered heavy losses in last week’s midterm elections, with the unpopular Iran war contributing to voter anger. Massie’s effort also puts members of Trump’s own party in the position of deciding whether Hegseth should face impeachment proceedings.
The House is expected to take up the resolution this week. Even if it passes, removing Hegseth would require a Senate conviction, which needs a two-thirds majority.
Featured image via X screengrab
