The US House rejects the impeachment proceedings for Hegseth

The Republican-led US House of Representatives has approved the motion blocking the impeachment proceedings for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The point just before the vote

(by Serena Di Ronza)

"A sabotage", a "political farce". The head of the Pentagon appears combative at the press conference to publicly defend himself from the impeachment proceedings that the House is preparing to evaluate at the request of Thomas Massie, the Republican deputy who is Donald Trump's enemy. While waiting for the procedural vote to decide whether to shelve the resolution or send it back to a commission for examination, Hegseth called his first press conference since May and appeared combative, strong in Trump's support. "He's a top score," said the US president, reiterating his for now unconditional support for the head of the Pentagon, the one who within the administration resembles him most in his ways.

Hegseth can also count on the support of the new chief of staff Stephen Miller, although many advisors in the White House do not know how long this support will last. "The president may at some point be forced to remove him when the situation is no longer sustainable," some sources noted to CNN. Republican Senator Ted Cruz is certain that Hegseth will leave or the commander-in-chief will torpedo him, convinced that the House will "most likely, if not certainly" approve his impeachment. The deputies are moving towards the procedural vote, which will decide whether to go ahead with the procedure or not. Once this obstacle has been overcome, the House could express itself directly on the impeachment resolution. If it were to be approved, the ball would pass to the Senate which would have to proceed with the trial and with a vote that requires two thirds of the votes of the upper house for Hegseth's dismissal. The chances of this happening are remote.

In American history no defense minister has ever been impeached. The impeachment efforts are a "farce. They are motivated by politics and make a mockery of the Constitution," Hegseth said bluntly during his press conference at the Pentagon. Thirty minutes in which he appeared anxious, defensive and almost exasperated by the attacks. Those who say that the American armed forces have targeted civilians are saying "slander. The only people who target civilians are terrorists", he explained, trying to dispel the accusations against him. Presenting himself as a defender of the armed forces, Hegseth noted that "if they want to pick on our warrior soldiers, then they will have to get past me first."

He then thanked Trump for his support. "I am grateful to him. He did the right thing" in Iran "not for political calculations but for the safety of the Americans. This is leadership", he highlighted, agreeing with the president when he says that he would "restart the war in Iran". From the podium he listed his successes in Venezuela in "just 48 minutes" and in the Middle East, in what he called all "perfectly legal operations", criticized by a "dissatisfied" MP who wants a "political show for his ego and because he has resentment". Massie is a sworn enemy of Trump who, by targeting Hegseth, aims to harm the president by depriving him of a loyalist. Defending himself staunchly and criticizing the Republican congressman who authored the impeachment resolution, Hegseth also urged Congress to approve the funds necessary for the Pentagon to continue operating regularly. The Minister of Defense is aware that his department's budget could become a weapon to stop the war in Iran: by depriving the Pentagon of the necessary funds, in fact, the conflict should stop.

The war in Iran is one of the reasons why the Republicans lost in the midterm elections, and one of the reasons for the split within the administration. Vice President JD Vance, opposed to the conflict from the beginning, defended Hegseth without referring to Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio limited himself to saying that he followed Trump's orders. Cautious positions have been taken by the two possible candidates for 2028 who, despite having to show loyalty to Trump and the administration, avoid talking about the war in Iran which is putting their political ambitions at risk.