Trump backs Hegseth as US defence secretary faces impeachment vote

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has pledged to stand by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth even if he is impeached, as a Republican lawmaker’s effort to remove the Pentagon chief is expected to face a vote in the House of Representatives this week.

Trump defended Hegseth on Monday, pointing to the US military’s operations in Iran and Venezuela, and questioned why the defence secretary should face impeachment.

“Well, he won two wars. I don’t know how you can impeach him,” Trump told Reuters in an interview.

Speaking later at a White House press conference, Trump said he would continue to support Hegseth even if the House voted to impeach him. He also criticised Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who introduced the impeachment resolution, calling him a “stone-cold loser”.

Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, triggering a two-day period for a potential House vote.

The charges include waging war against Iran without congressional approval and other alleged abuses of power.

Impeachment resolution raises political tensions

Massie urged lawmakers to hold a full vote and debate on the eight articles, warning that Republican leadership could attempt to block a direct vote through a procedural motion.

“They may try to get out of an actual vote on the substance of this. We should have a vote and a rigorous debate on these eight articles of impeachment,” he told reporters.

Congressional sources told Reuters that the resolution could secure enough support to pass the House, despite Trump’s Republicans retaining control until January 3, when Democrats are due to take over.

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

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

“Impeachment in the middle of hostilities abroad” would be “a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see,” Johnson said.

Hegseth says he is not worried about impeachment

Hegseth has responded defiantly to the impeachment effort, using social media to defend his position and insisting he would not back down.

In a video message last week, he compared his situation with Trump’s experience of being impeached twice, saying: “It didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me.”

Asked on Monday whether he had enough Republican support to defeat the resolution, Hegseth said: “We’re not worried about that.”

He also announced plans to hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday, his first there since May.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as White House national security adviser, described the impeachment push as unfair and defended Hegseth’s performance.

“I think Pete’s done a good job. I really do,” Rubio told reporters.

Democrats signal further scrutiny of Pentagon chief

The impeachment effort comes amid political divisions over the US war with Iran, which has contributed to voter anger and helped Democrats win control of Congress in last week’s midterm elections.

Massie’s articles accuse Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanours, including launching military action against Iran without congressional approval and allegedly violating the free speech rights of Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.

The resolution also refers to Hegseth’s attempt last year to prosecute Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds after they urged US troops to refuse illegal orders.

Hegseth accused the lawmakers of sedition, while Trump said in a social media post at the time that the offence was “punishable by DEATH!”

Democratic leaders have also promised investigations into Hegseth, including his decision to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other senior military officials.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday he strongly supported impeaching Hegseth, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for the Senate to put the defence secretary on trial.

“Hegseth waged this war illegally, in open defiance of the Constitution and multiple War Powers Resolutions this Congress passed to end the fighting,” Schumer said.

Massie, who is leaving office in January, warned that the impeachment proceedings could be less damaging for Hegseth than the investigations expected after Democrats take control of the House.

He urged Trump to replace the defence secretary while a successor could still be confirmed by the Senate.