Pete Hegseth calls impeachment effort ‘sabotage’ at Pentagon briefing

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called an impeachment effort against him “sabotage” at a Pentagon news conference on Nov. 10, one day after Representative Thomas Massie introduced eight articles against him. Hegseth defended US operations in Iran, and President Donald Trump renewed his support for the defense secretary.

• Massie said the House was due to vote on a procedural motion to kill the resolution.
• Hegseth said he stood by every Iran war operation and would carry them out again.
• Trump praised Hegseth’s response and attacked Massie in a Truth Social post.

The briefing was Hegseth’s first Pentagon news conference since May, Reuters reported in its account republished by RTÉ. He called the impeachment effort a “farce” as well as “sabotage,” and said the process handed US adversaries a propaganda victory. Hegseth invoked the failed impeachments of Trump, saying the president had returned stronger. He added that if standing with Trump put him in the same company, he would accept it.

Rolling Stone reported that Hegseth also said politicians were trying to blame enlisted service members for alleged war crimes. “If they want to come for the warriors, they’re going to have to come through me,” he said. His remarks were a defense of the operations; the allegations in Massie’s articles remain allegations.

What the House was due to consider

Massie said in a post on X that the House was due to hold an initial vote on Nov. 10 on a procedural motion to kill his resolution. If the motion failed, he said, lawmakers would proceed to debate and vote on the articles, Reuters reported. The outcome of the scheduled procedural vote has not been established.

The Nov. 9 filing and expected House consideration were covered in earlier NewsJaws reporting. The new development is Hegseth’s response the following day, alongside Trump’s renewed public backing.

What it means for Hegseth’s support

Shortly after the briefing, Trump posted on Truth Social that Hegseth deserved an “A” plus for his defense, while describing Massie as a defeated former congressman. Rolling Stone also reported that Trump had told reporters he would stand by Hegseth if impeached.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst said she had serious questions about possible deception reaching the president from the Pentagon, while saying she did not know whether that issue would be part of the impeachment matter. Senator Bill Cassidy said he would be open to a Senate trial if the House impeached Hegseth, Rolling Stone reported.