
US President Donald Trump announced his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if he faces impeachment procedures, and described Representative Thomas Massie, who presented the articles of impeachment, as a loser, amid an expected vote on Wednesday on the articles of impeachment.
AI-generated summary
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, necessitating a vote Wednesday. Trump referred to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization in late 2023 and early 2024, and to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US President Donald Trump announced, on Monday, that he would stand by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth if he was subjected to impeachment proceedings, describing Republican Representative Thomas Massie - who presented articles of impeachment - as "a loser in every sense of the word."
"Yes, I will stand by him," Trump told CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins during a press conference at the White House. Speaking about the Republican representative from Kentucky - who lost in the primary elections to a Trump-backed competitor earlier this year, he added: "Massie has a lot of hate in his heart. I don't want to waste my time watching him. We've won two wars, and we've made the world a much safer place, and then we're supposed to face impeachment measures?"
Massey's filing of the articles of impeachment means that a vote will have to be held on them on Wednesday.
Hegseth downplayed the attempt to isolate him, stressing his agreement with Trump that he would "do it again" regarding waging war against Iran. The US President also renewed his praise of his Defense Minister, saying that he "did a very good job."
He continued: “I say this: Pete Hegseth won two wars, so do we want to isolate him? What about isolating that person who was in the administration of (former President Joe) Biden, who disappeared for two weeks without anyone knowing his whereabouts?”, referring to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s secret hospitalization in late 2023 and early 2024.
Trump added: “What about impeaching those who ran the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts in which thousands of lives were lost?”
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Articles of impeachment will be voted on against Hegseth on Wednesday, as reported in the article.
Very likely · Within days

Russia and Ukraine are resuming their negotiations in Abu Dhabi under American auspices after an 8-month hiatus, amid limited hopes for achieving diplomatic progress and European fears of unfavorable conditions for Kiev.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie presents a draft resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the US House of Representatives, accusing him of violating the Constitution by continuing military operations against Iran for more than 90 days without authorization from Congress, amid expectations that the effort will fail given the Republican control of Congress until next January.

The new Israeli Knesset begins its work on Tuesday after elections that did not result in a clear majority, as President Isaac Herzog tasked Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government. At the same time, Iran and the United States continue negotiations over the nuclear program, with officials in Tehran and Washington exchanging statements about the possibility of war or reaching an agreement.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of waging war in Iran without congressional approval and ignoring civilian protection laws. If the vote is successful in the House of Representatives, Hegseth will become the third minister to face impeachment in the history of the United States, and the case will then move to the Senate, where conviction requires a two-thirds majority of members.

Nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran complicate efforts to end the war, as Iran refuses to take out enriched uranium and links any negotiation to lifting sanctions and the blockade, while American officials rule out an imminent breakthrough. The communications coincided with strikes on Qeshm and the targeting of 11 tankers in Hormuz, amid Qatari and Chinese mediation.

The Deputy Emir of Riyadh visited the Aramco building targeted by the Houthis with a drone, and the Prime Minister of Canada condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi Foreign Minister discussed regional developments and navigation security with his counterparts in France, Britain, South Korea and Germany during the G7 meetings in Paris.