Hegseth fires back at impeachment push

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed efforts to impeach him, predicting that the initiative would fail.
• He argued that policy disagreements should be addressed through legislation, political debate and elections rather than impeachment.
• Hegseth compared the effort to Trump's two previous impeachments, both of which ended in acquittals.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back Tuesday against efforts to impeach him, accusing Democrats of seeking to turn Congress into a political battleground and insisting that the move against him will fail.

In remarks defending himself, Hegseth argued that disagreements over government policy should be settled through legislation, political debate and presidential elections rather than impeachment.

“The proper remedy for a policy disagreement, it's legislation. It's debate. It's the next presidential election,” he said.

He accused Democrats of trying to stage a “show trial” against him and US President Donald Trump, arguing that Republicans should instead be using their control of Congress to deliver on their political agenda.

Hegseth also invoked Trump's two previous impeachments, both initiated by Democratic lawmakers during his first presidency, arguing that neither succeeded in removing him from office.

“They impeached President Trump over a perfect phone call. They impeached him again in his final week in office. Both times they failed. Both times he came back stronger,” Hegseth said.

“Now they're trying a third time. This time against a member of his Cabinet. They will fail again,” he added.

He concluded by reaffirming his support for Trump, saying he would accept being targeted for his association with the president.

“If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week.”

The remarks come after Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky reintroduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, reviving an effort he first launched in September. The resolution accuses the defense secretary of committing eight violations of law or the Constitution amounting to high crimes and misdemeanors.

The allegations include:

1. Iran war: Three charges accusing Hegseth of waging war without congressional authorization and violating the War Powers Resolution.
2. Civilian casualties: Allegedly disregarding laws intended to protect civilians during armed conflict.
3. Caribbean and Pacific strikes: Overseeing lethal military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels, which Massie describes as extrajudicial killings.
4. Free speech: Retaliating against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly over his comments urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
5. Venezuela: Authorizing the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without congressional approval.
6. Yemen: Waging military operations against the Houthis in violation of the War Powers Resolution.

Massie's renewed push follows his unsuccessful attempt to bring the resolution to the House floor before the midterm elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson ended the session early at the time, preventing a vote before the measure expired.

The reintroduced resolution could face a House vote as soon as Wednesday, with Johnson required to schedule consideration within two legislative days if he rules it privileged. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has already said he would support impeachment.

Despite the possibility of securing enough votes in the House, removing Hegseth would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate, making his removal considerably less likely.

Trump has also publicly backed his defense secretary, saying he would stand by Hegseth and crediting him with overseeing victories in two wars.

Hegseth has previously dismissed Massie's effort as a politically motivated attempt by a defeated lawmaker, saying: “Didn't work against President Trump, and it won't work with me.”

Read more: Trump attacks Massie over Hegseth impeachment push