Hegseth calls Massie's impeachment push a farce over the Iran war

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a press briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, to attack an effort in Congress to impeach him, calling it a farce and arguing that he was being punished for lawful military action against Iran. The Times of Israel, carrying an Associated Press report, said it was his first briefing at the Pentagon in six months, and his first since May.

The push is led by Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who is leaving Congress. Ynet reported that Massie had submitted a proposal in the House of Representatives to open impeachment proceedings against Hegseth, chiefly over the war against Iran. According to Ynet, Hegseth said he would go to war against Iran again tomorrow and that he was proud the United States had done so.

What Hegseth said

Hegseth presented the effort as political rather than legal. According to the Associated Press account, he told reporters that Massie was pursuing him over "policy disagreements" and not over the kind of serious offences that the authors of the US Constitution had in mind when they created impeachment. He argued that across the history of the American republic, nobody holding the post of war or defense secretary had faced impeachment for conducting "lawful military operations." The Jerusalem Post also reported his claim that lawmakers were seeking to punish him for lawful military action in Iran.

Ynet quoted him describing the process as deliberate sabotage. He argued that it told adversaries watching the United States that the country would punish its own troops for military actions he described as both lawful and successful.

The Hebrew-language Telegram channel Abu Ali Express reported further remarks. In its version, Hegseth said the attempt to remove him was the work of one man trying to use his final days in Congress to harm the president and the country. He also said Republicans still control Congress and should use the opportunity to secure achievements while they can.

Trump's response

President Donald Trump backed his defense secretary. According to Ynet, Trump gave Hegseth a grade of "A+++" and called Massie a total loser.

Who is Thomas Massie

Massie is a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Kentucky, the same party as Trump and Hegseth. The Associated Press described him as outgoing, and Hegseth's remark about his last days in Congress refers to his coming departure.

How impeachment works

Under the US Constitution, the House of Representatives can vote to impeach, which amounts to bringing formal charges against a president or another senior federal official. The Senate then holds a trial to decide whether to remove that official. Impeachment is meant for serious misconduct, which is the basis of Hegseth's argument that disagreement over a war does not qualify. A proposal by a single member of Congress does not on its own amount to impeachment.

The war with Iran and other operations

The United States has been fighting a war against Iran, which the Associated Press described as unpopular. According to that report, American forces have continued to carry out action against Iran on and off in the months since Hegseth's previous briefing. They have also conducted deadly strikes on boats in Latin America that Washington says were smuggling drugs. Massie's effort targets Hegseth's handling of the Iran war as well as other actions. Hegseth's defence of the Iran campaign as lawful and successful is the core of his response.

How the reports frame it

The reports differ in emphasis. The Times of Israel headline described the threat as a possible bipartisan impeachment push, meaning support could come from both parties. Abu Ali Express placed the effort in the context of the Republicans' loss in the midterm elections, and quoted Hegseth casting it as the work of one man. Ynet said the proposal was driven mainly by the war against Tehran. The exact wording of Hegseth's remarks also varies slightly between the Hebrew and English accounts, which reflects translation.

What the reports do not say

None of the reports gives the text of Massie's proposal, the specific charges it contains, or how many members of Congress support it. They do not say whether or when the House will vote on it, and they do not include any response from Massie to Hegseth's remarks or to Trump's criticism. The reports also do not explain which Democrats, if any, have backed the effort.