Trump backs War Secretary Hegseth amid attempts to impeach him

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky has submitted articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging the senior official abused his position and issued unlawful orders to initiate a war with Iran. According to CNN, Massie claims Hegseth "knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation."

He further stated that Hegseth's actions demonstrated that he remains a threat to the Constitution and acted in a manner incompatible with his duties and the rule of law. Massie presented the articles on the House floor and indicated that a vote on the impeachment motion would need to take place by Wednesday. The impeachment effort falls short of the two-thirds majority required in the Senate to remove Hegseth from office, making it an uphill battle even if Democrats and a few Republicans back the motion.

Hegseth remains defiant, while Trump has publicly supported his defence secretary. The Pentagon chief is also scheduled to address the issue at a news conference on Tuesday. The move to impeach Hegseth comes amid growing criticism following the Republican Party's poor performance in the 2026 midterm elections. Some Republican lawmakers have blamed the Iran war for the electoral setback, accusing Hegseth of playing a leading role in persuading Trump to attack Iran without a clear exit strategy and overstating the speed at which the United States could achieve its military objectives.