‘No Defense Secretary Ever Charged’: Pete Hegseth Defends Iran’s War Actions Amid Pressure to Remove | Today’s news
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday (Nov 10) launched a strong defense against congressional impeachment efforts, accusing the Republican lawmaker of targeting him over policy disagreements rather than any impeachment. Hegseth described the move as an attempt to undermine the US military, calling it “sabotage”.
In his first Pentagon press briefing in six months, Hegseth rejected a resolution of impeachment introduced by outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The resolution, introduced Monday in the House of Representatives, seeks to impeach Hegseth over his handling of the US war against Iran and other military operations.
“In the 250 years of our American Republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for conducting lawful military operations,” Hegseth told reporters.
Massie’s impeachment resolution focuses largely on the Iran conflict, but also raises questions about Hegseth’s role in US military operations in Yemen against Iran’s Houthi rebels and in Venezuela. Massie argued that Hegseth’s actions constituted “high crimes and misdemeanors” and that his leadership of the Pentagon warranted impeachment.
The resolution sets the stage for a potentially contentious vote in the House, where lawmakers face pressure after heavy Republican losses in last week’s primary. The Iran war and its economic consequences, particularly rising energy prices, have emerged as major political concerns.
A vote in the House could take place by midweek, though prospects for a resolution and next steps remain uncertain.
During a briefing Tuesday, Hegseth portrayed the impeachment push as an attack on U.S. military personnel and their accomplishments, saying it could weaken the country’s position against its adversaries.
“That’s not patriotism,” he said. “This is sabotage.
He further argued that Massie’s move sends the wrong message to countries and groups hostile to Washington.
Hegseth said the effort “says to our enemies — Iran, the cartels, any bystander adversary — that the United States will in fact punish its own warfighters and its own civilian leadership for successfully conducting lawful military operations.”
Trump backs Hegseth amid growing criticism over Iran war
US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Hegseth, citing the January military airstrike that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and US operations against Iran. Trump has repeatedly claimed that US strikes have “wiped out” Iran’s navy and air force.
However, Iran continued its attacks against US military bases in the Middle East and disrupted shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz during the more than eight-month conflict. The disruption contributed to the rise in global oil prices.
Trump told reporters on Monday that the Iran war was “effectively over militarily” and repeated his claim that Tehran was interested in reaching a deal with Washington.
Hegseth has also defended the Trump administration’s military strategy in recent public appearances. After a speech at the Naval War College in Rhode Island on Monday, he accused critics of being politically motivated and opposing the administration’s military achievements.
“There are a lot of politically motivated people who may have fundamental political disagreements, but their disagreements are successful,” he said, adding that he is prepared to defend the administration’s military actions.
Last week, Hegseth also posted a video on social media in which he described the impeachment effort as driven by a “politics of personal destruction.”
“That won’t work with me. You can be sure of that,” he said.
After the video, several Pentagon political appointees posted pictures of Hegseth with the message: “Stand. Fight. Defend the Republic.”
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth remained committed to his role despite pressure for impeachment.
In a statement, Parnell said that “despite threats of bogus witch hunts by Democrats,” Hegseth was “100% committed to leading the department through the end of President Trump’s term.”
