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War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday denounced the effort to impeach him as a “farce” and an affront to American troops on the eve of Veterans Day, defending the Iran war and other U.S. military operations as lawful and successf
Speaking at a rare Pentagon news briefing, Hegseth said 18 Americans had died in Operation Epic Fury and accused lawmakers pursuing his impeachment of disparaging service members who carried out the administration’s orders.
“We know their names. I’ve been to Dover. We honor them every day. But their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve,” he said.
The remarks came one day after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced eight updated articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of carrying out military operations against Iran without congressional authorization, disregarding laws intended to protect civilians, and retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., among other allegations.
While Hegseth was speaking, Massie posted on X that the House would vote first on a procedural motion intended to block the resolution, potentially by referring it to a committee.
“If we can overcome that effort, we will proceed to a real debate and vote on the Articles of Impeachment,” Massie said.
The impeachment push follows sweeping Republican midterm losses that lawmakers from both parties have attributed in part to the Iran war and soaring energy prices.
Invoking Veterans Day, Hegseth defended troops involved in operations against Iran, Yemen’s Houthi militants, and former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“Their service was not a crime. These are heroes, and no politician in Washington will tell them otherwise. While I hold this office,” he said.
Hegseth maintained that the operations were ordered by President Donald Trump, communicated to Congress, and carried out legally. He said he would execute them again and rejected allegations that American forces target civilians.
“As to the claim that the American military targets civilians, well, that is a lie. And that is a slander against every professional who flew, sailed, and fought on these missions,” he said.
Hegseth characterized the resolution as a product of Massie’s personal resentment and policy differences, saying such disagreements should be addressed through legislation, debate, and elections.
He accused Massie of giving Democrats a platform to attack the administration while Republicans still control Congress and contended that impeachment would embolden adversaries.
“It puts a target on the backs of American warriors by signaling that Congress will undermine their missions in real time. This is not patriotism,” Hegseth said. “This is sabotage.”
Defending Operation Epic Fury, the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran that began in February, Hegseth said American forces achieved a historic victory in fewer than 40 days of sustained combat.
He said more than 13,000 targets were struck and more than 80% of Iran’s nuclear industrial base was destroyed. He also maintained that the U.S. blockade remained intact and American forces controlled the Strait of Hormuz.
“History will judge the Iran war quite differently than conventional wisdom right now,” he said.
Hegseth credited Trump with making difficult decisions despite the political consequences.
“He did the tough, right thing, not for politics, but for the safety and the security of the American people. That’s leadership. He did not kick the can,” Hegseth said. “He kicked their teeth in.”
He defended the operation that captured Maduro, saying it lasted 48 minutes without American fatalities, and said attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels had sharply reduced maritime smuggling.
Hegseth also cited increased danger pay, the reinstatement of more than 600 service members discharged under the previous administration’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, and what he described as historic recruiting results.
Massie’s resolution requires House leaders to schedule action within two legislative days. Massie said Monday he had no commitments from other Republicans to support impeachment.
Passage would require at least three Republican votes if all Democrats support the resolution, depending on attendance. Removing Hegseth would require conviction by a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called himself a “hard yes,” describing Hegseth as the “architect of the reckless and costly failed war of choice in Iran.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., opposed impeachment during ongoing hostilities, telling CBS News it “would be a terrible, terrible look.”
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said he is “wrestling” with the issue.
“I don’t think he’s been a good secretary, but do you impeach a guy for that?” Bacon said.
Trump pledged Monday to stand by Hegseth, calling Massie a “stone-cold loser.”
Hegseth compared the effort against him to Trump’s two impeachments, both of which ended in Senate acquittals.
“Now, they’re trying a third time, this time against a member of his cabinet. They will fail again. And if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I’ll take that company every day of the week,” he said.