JD Vance calls Hegseth impeachment bid ‘absurd’, says move targets Pentagon reforms

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance has defended Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth against an impeachment effort, calling it “absurd” and arguing that the move is driven by opposition to his reforms at the Pentagon rather than his handling of the war with Iran.

In a post on X, Vance said Hegseth had committed no impeachable crimes and accused lawmakers of using impeachment as a substitute for policymaking.

“Has Pete Hegseth committed impeachable crimes? The question is absurd and the answer is: obviously not,” Vance wrote.

He said Congress had several ways to register disagreements over government policy but was choosing to pursue impeachment instead.

“Legislation is hard. Impeachments are easy (and ultimately, inconsequential),” he said, comparing the effort against Hegseth with previous attempts to impeach President Donald Trump.

Has Pete Hegseth committed impeachable crimes? The question is absurd and the answer is: obviously not.

Like so much of Congress, impeachment has become a ridiculous show that stands in for actual policymaking. Congress has so many tools for registering its policy disagreements.…

— JD Vance (@JDVance) November 10, 2026

Vance argued that lawmakers were particularly opposed to Hegseth’s decisions to reposition US military forces away from Europe and Ukraine and reorganise the general officer corps.

“This isn’t about Iran, this is about the fact that Pete took on the bureaucracy at the Pentagon,” he wrote.

Vance’s remarks came as Republican Representative Thomas Massie’s effort to impeach Hegseth moved towards a possible vote in the House of Representatives.

Eight articles of impeachment

Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, accusing him of high crimes and misdemeanours involving US military operations in Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, as well as alleged retaliation against a Democratic lawmaker.

Three of the articles relate to the war with Iran. They accuse Hegseth of directing, authorising and continuing military operations beyond the 60-day limit under the War Powers Resolution without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorisation.

A fourth Iran-related charge accuses him of failing to ensure that US forces complied with laws requiring the minimisation of civilian casualties. It refers to a February 28 strike on a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab that killed scores of children.

Two other articles concern US military operations in Venezuela. They accuse Hegseth of directing the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and authorising extrajudicial lethal strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific that reportedly killed more than 220 people.

Another article relates to alleged unlawful US military strikes and operations in Yemen during the 2025 US-British campaign against Houthi fighters.

The final article accuses Hegseth of retaliating against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. The allegations refer to Hegseth’s attempt last year to prosecute Kelly and seek his demotion from his retired Navy captain rank after he and five other Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds urged US troops not to obey illegal orders.

Hegseth has denied wrongdoing.

Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as ‘farce’

Hegseth on Tuesday dismissed the impeachment effort as a “farce” and a political stunt, saying it would embolden US adversaries.

Speaking at a Pentagon news conference, his first there since May, he thanked Trump for standing by him and accused his opponents of turning the proceedings into a political spectacle.

He compared the effort with the two impeachment proceedings against Trump, saying both had failed and that the latest attempt against a member of the president’s cabinet would meet the same fate.

“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” Hegseth said.

He also defended US military operations, saying he stood by the decisions taken during the Iran conflict and would make the same choices again.

Trump has repeatedly backed Hegseth, saying he would continue to support the defence secretary even if the House voted to impeach him.

Thank you Mr. President.

Like you, we will never back down. pic.twitter.com/agIcDPjW5e

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 10, 2026

The president has also criticised Massie, calling him a “stone-cold loser”. Trump previously defended Hegseth by pointing to US military operations in Iran and Venezuela, saying he did not understand how the defence secretary could be impeached after what he described as victories in both conflicts.

House vote expected

Massie’s resolution has set in motion a two-day period for the House to consider the impeachment articles. A procedural vote was scheduled for Tuesday, with a substantive vote expected as early as Wednesday if Republican leaders fail to block the resolution.

Massie has urged lawmakers to debate and vote on the charges, warning that the Republican leadership could use procedural measures to prevent a direct vote on their merits.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed the impeachment effort, arguing that proceedings against the defence secretary while military hostilities are under way would send a damaging message to US allies and adversaries.

The resolution could secure enough support to pass the Republican-controlled House, according to congressional sources cited by Reuters. Democrats are due to take control of the House on January 3 following their gains in last week’s midterm elections.

However, Hegseth’s removal through conviction in the Senate appears unlikely. A two-thirds majority is required, while Republicans currently hold 53 of the chamber’s 100 seats.

Political divisions over Iran war

The impeachment effort has exposed divisions in Washington over the US war with Iran, which has contributed to voter anger and was among the issues surrounding the Democrats’ strong performance in last week’s midterm elections.

Democratic leaders have also signalled plans for further scrutiny of Hegseth when they take control of the House.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed support for impeaching the defence secretary, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has called for the Senate to put him on trial.

Massie, who is leaving office in January, has argued that the impeachment effort could be less damaging for Hegseth than the investigations expected after Democrats assume control of the House. He has urged Trump to replace the defence secretary while a successor could still be confirmed by the Senate.