While reading the articles of impeachment on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Massie stated that Hegseth "abused" his powers as defense secretary and "knowingly followed illegal orders" by carrying out the attacks on Iran. Massie said Hegseth "will continue to be a threat to the Constitution if he is allowed to remain in office."
Emphasizing that the war is unconstitutional because the Trump administration started the conflict without the approval of lawmakers, Massie noted that Congress continued military action even though it requested the Pentagon to stop hostilities. With the articles of impeachment submitted on Monday, a vote became mandatory by Wednesday evening.
Republicans in the House of Representatives could delay the impeachment attempt, leaving the decision to the Judiciary Committee. If passed, the motion will go to the Senate, which will have to either hold a trial or drop the charges.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie
SUPPORT FROM TRUMP TO HEGSETH
US President Donald Trump stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deserves praise rather than dismissal. In his post on his social media account, Trump described Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who he said was trying to dismiss Hegseth, as "a complete loser." Claiming that Hegseth is "perhaps the most popular and successful military officer" of the country, Trump argued that "the US army achieved two victories in Venezuela and Iran."
Trump said, "Pete Hegseth needs to be praised instead of impeached. Congress, stand behind Pete."
PENTAGON WILL ATTACK
In a statement on Monday, Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez called the articles of impeachment "vindictive and unfounded" and said the Department would "go on the offensive" against the attempt. Hegseth, on the other hand, described Massie as a "disgruntled, defeated congressman" and likened the impeachment attempt to "fraud" in the video he published on social media last week.
Massie is one of the best-known anti-war Republicans and lost his party's primary earlier this year after endorsing President Donald Trump's opponent. Hegseth had taken part in the campaign of Massie's rival. Republican lawmakers have stepped up their criticism of Hegseth in recent weeks. Criticism intensified after Republicans lost both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. Republican Representative James Comer, one of Trump's staunch allies, refrained from supporting the Secretary of Defense in an interview with News Nation on Friday, saying that Republicans "have no idea what the forward strategy is on Iran."
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
WHY CAN'T TRUMP LEAVE HEGSETH?
He staunchly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid the Trump impeachment storm. Firing the former Fox News host now would mean admitting that the Iran war, of which Hegseth is the fiercest advocate, was a mistake. Impeachment could also undermine Trump's attempt to redefine his military adventure, which is fruitless at best and a strategic disaster at worst.
Trump gave his strongest support to Hegseth on Monday, right after Republican Rep. Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against the defense secretary in the House of Representatives.
Trump said, "What did Hegseth do? He won the war. He was responsible. He won the Venezuela war, as I said, in 48 minutes. It was perfect. No one died. And I definitely think he won the Iran war."
Trump's statement of support for Hegseth caused great repercussions in the United States, but it did not stop the debates about Hegseth's competence. The US press points out that the idea that the war in Iran has been won is strategically controversial.
"REJECTING HEGSETH WOULD BE TRUMP'S JUDGMENT OF HIS OWN BRAND"
Hegseth is the cabinet member most similar to Trump. Beyond the war, there are political reasons why a president retreating into an increasingly tight inner circle might not want to let go of Hegseth. The Pentagon chief is the cabinet member who most consciously managed to copy Trump's political identity. He had the courage to expel the press from the Pentagon; He has joined the culture war with sharp rhetoric and seems determined to wear his election defeat as a badge of honour.
In the Post's assessment of Washington, it was argued that Trump's rejection of the man who rebranded the Pentagon as the "Department of War" would mean throwing away his own brand.
TRUMP IS ANGRY
While Trump was outraged at the injustice of Hegseth's situation, he also pointed out a political trap that surrounded him, according to CNN International's analysis. The US President is fighting the last political battle; Millions of voters rejected confrontational politics. Insisting on the Iran war could make Trump's situation worse.
Both Trump and Hegseth cannot bring themselves to face the fact that Iran relies on US attacks. The war has cost tens of billions of dollars and is rising; US allies in the Gulf have drifted away from Washington.
'IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT HE WILL BE DISMISSED BY THE END OF THE YEAR'
A defense minister who angers both parties over the war will not be out of danger. Hegseth could become a liability when Trump has to push his defense spending demands through a Democratic Congress. Massie said he believes there is a "high probability" that Hegseth will be dismissed by the end of the year.
Massie predicted that the new Congress would call in officials who served under Hegseth who "have seen some things and know some things that haven't been made public yet."
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, told reporters that he did not support impeachment and said, "Whether (Hegseth) continues his duty is up to him and his family or the President."
Trump has shown that he still has no plan for a lasting peace. Predictions of the agreement oscillated between claims that this was not a real war anyway and warnings that the United States was ready for a new attack. If Hegseth cannot save himself, the war will taint Trump's final two years in office. But it will be difficult for Trump to turn a new political page while Hegseth is still in the Pentagon. The most dangerous moment for the Secretary of Defense may come not during the impeachment process, but when Trump must throw Hegseth off the ship rather than defend him to protect himself.
