Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called an impeachment resolution against him a “sham” and a “political spectacle” at a news conference on Nov. 10, 2026. (Foto: Instagram)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called an impeachment resolution against him a “sham” and a “political spectacle.” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced the measure this week. Hegseth made his remarks at a news conference in the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, saying the effort was political dissent that “plays games with the Constitution and attacks the chain of command.”
Hegseth argued that the resolution sends a message to U.S. adversaries, including Iran and drug cartels, that the country would punish its own service members and civilian leaders for carrying out successful military operations that he described as lawful. He said he had conducted such operations and, in response to criticism, would do so again.
“We will not apologize for putting American lives first,” Hegseth said. He characterized the military actions as successful and legal, while Massie’s resolution challenges the secretary’s conduct and could lead to his impeachment.
The resolution contains eight articles. It accuses Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional authorization, disregarding laws intended to reduce civilian deaths, and ordering the Defense Department to carry out extrajudicial executions. These are allegations laid out in Massie’s resolution, not findings established in the article.
President Donald Trump defended Hegseth in a social media post on Monday. Trump called him “perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the country” and said he deserved praise rather than impeachment. Trump also credited Hegseth with victories in Venezuela and Iran, even as the war in Iran is among the main sources of criticism against the defense secretary.
