Hegseth's attack before the impeachment vote: "Sabotage"

For the first time since May, Pete Hegseth stood at the White House press podium on Tuesday. During a half-hour long press conference, he went to the receiving end against those who want to impeach him.

- This is not patriotism. This is sabotage, said Pete Hegseth.

It is Hegseth's party colleague Thomas Massie who submitted a resolution to impeach the Minister of Defense. The resolution concerns Hegseth's role in the Iran war, as well as the US military operations in Venezuela and Yemen.

The Minister of Defense defended the efforts as legal. The war in Iran was "the right thing to do," according to Hegseth, and US attacks against alleged "narco-terrorists" in the waters off Venezuela have saved "thousands of American lives."

"Every operation was legal, ordered by the commander in chief, then ordered by myself, reported to Congress and carried out by American soldiers doing their jobs," he said.

Hegseth called the trial against him a political spectacle and a farce, recalling that President Donald Trump survived both of his impeachment trials.

The House of Representatives votes on impeachment on Tuesday evening. The outcome is unclear, but in addition to Thomas Massie, several other Republicans have expressed frustration with Hegseth's actions. Massie said Monday he doesn't know if there are enough votes to muster a majority. If it does, the matter will go on to the Senate where a two-thirds majority is required to impeach the defense minister.