FIle photo: US defense secretary Pete Hegseth alongside US President Donald Trump during an event
Massie, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year, has been among the party members openly questioning Hegseth’s handling of the conflict. The American commander-in-chief’s statement came hours after a Republican Representative launched an effort to impeach Hegseth. He won two wars.
He accused the lawmaker of having “a lot of hatred in his heart”. Earlier reporting noted: US President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind embattled Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, declaring that the Pentagon chief had done a “good job” during his time in office by “winning” two wars in Venezuela and Iran. He was in charge,” Trump said while defending the Pentagon chief at a White House press briefing.
Trump also took aim at Massie’s electoral defeat, saying he had backed a challenger who had never run for office before and beaten the incumbent easily. The impeachment resolution also includes references to Hegseth’s role in carrying out military actions in Yemen and Venezuela.
Earlier reporting noted: A Republican Representative moved to force a vote to impeach Defence Secretary Hegseth based largely on the war in Iran. Earlier reporting noted: “Yeah, I’ll stand by him…
Hegseth prepares to defend military operations
He won the war in Venezuela, as I said, 48 minutes. He has also announced plans to hold a news conference on Tuesday, his first in more than 180 days, to address the impeachment threat. “He won the war. And he certainly, I think, won the war in Iran. Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of abusing his powers and carrying out unlawful military actions. The articles also accuse the defence secretary of illegally launching the war against Iran and being responsible for civilian deaths in boat strikes targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean, Politico reported.
Trump said. Reading the resolution on the House floor, Massie accused Hegseth of having “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” and said he “remains a threat to the Constitution”. Last week, he described the impeachment effort as a sham by “a disgruntled defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies”. “Massie’s a loser, just like you’re a loser at CNN, just like your ratings are a loser, Massie is a loser, stone cold loser,” he said. Speaking to reporters after an address at the Naval War College in Rhode Island, he dismissed the effort as politically motivated and said he was prepared to defend the operations. “There’s a lot of politically motivated people who may have substantial policy disagreements, but their disagreements are with success,” he said. He added that if lawmakers wanted to examine the administration’s military actions, “I’m happy to do it all day long”. “Someone had to confront the Iranian regime’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that “the choice was don’t act and wish it away or take a bold move”. Secretary of state Marco Rubio defended Hegseth, saying he believed the defence secretary had been doing “a great job”. And so I see perhaps a side of him that the media doesn’t see and members of Congress may not see,” Rubio said at a Group of Seven meeting in Paris. Trump said on Monday that the war was “militarily … effectively over”, but maintained that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue and that American forces remained “locked and loaded, ready to go” if circumstances required further military action.
Trump defended Hegseth’s record, claiming that he had overseen successful military operations in Venezuela and Iran. The US operation in Venezuela led to the capture of former leader Nicolas Maduro in January, while the conflict with Iran is still ongoing. “Really, what has Hegseth done? He was in charge. It was flawless — nobody killed. Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Defeated Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a total loser, is trying to Impeach perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the Country, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. With recruitment at an ALL-TIME HIGH, from an all-time low under Sleepy Joe Biden, and TWO VICTORIES, Venezuela and Iran, Pete Hegseth should be praised, not Impeached. Congress, stand up for Pete!!! The president’s remarks came as Hegseth faces growing criticism over his role in the administration’s military operations, including the war against Iran and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. The charges largely concern the Iran war but also refer to US operations in Yemen and Venezuela. Hegseth has rejected the allegations. During the exchange, Trump also criticised CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins when she pressed him on Massie’s allegations against Hegseth. Hegseth has stepped up his public defence of the administration’s military actions ahead of the impeachment vote. Hegseth also defended the decision to go to war with Iran, arguing that the military action was necessary to confront Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “I work with him. “But I think Pete works really hard. He’s incredibly smart. The impeachment push comes amid continued uncertainty over the Iran conflict. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
House vote expected as political battle intensifies
“He won two wars. We all won.
“Massie is a loser,” Trump said. The president also described Massie as a “stone cold loser” and said he would stand by Hegseth even if the House voted to impeach him. “Yeah, I’ll stand by,” Trump said. “Hegseth must stand trial before the Senate,” Schumer said. House Speaker Mike Johnson said impeachment “in the middle of hostilities abroad would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that”. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was unsure why the vote was being held at this stage, adding that the Senate would deal with the matter depending on the House’s decision.
US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind defence secretary Pete Hegseth as Republican Representative Thomas Massie pushes for a House vote to impeach the Pentagon chief over his handling of the Iran war and other military operations. “He shouldn’t be taking up the time of Congress or the Senate or anything that he’s doing. He was in charge. A vote on the impeachment resolution could take place by mid-week, although its prospects remain uncertain. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has backed the measure, while Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has also endorsed the impeachment push. If most Democrats support the resolution, Massie would need the backing of only a small number of Republicans to secure impeachment in the House. However, Republican leaders have expressed reservations about holding the vote while military operations abroad are continuing. If the House impeaches Hegseth, the Senate would have to decide whether to dismiss the charges or hold a trial. Republicans retain control of both chambers until the new Congress convenes in January, when Democrats are set to take control. This is the second attempt by Massie in two months to remove Hegseth. The first effort did not reach a vote after Republican leaders sent lawmakers home early for the pre-midterm recess.
Trump attacked Massie during an unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room on Monday, hours after the Kentucky Republican filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth and read them aloud on the House floor.