‘Farce, stunt’: Hegseth launches fiery attack on impeachment push ahead of House vote
🚨 JUST IN: SecWar Pete Hegseth just WALKED OUT and ripped Thomas Massie to SHREDS over his impeachment "It's a farce, and it's a STUNT. And everybody knows it!" "What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and RESENTMENT. Time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country, and most irresponsibly, the WARRIORS who defend it." 🔥🔥🔥 Massie needs just a simple majority in the House. He'll likely celebrate it, but this is DOA in the Senate PETE IS FIGHTING BACK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 10, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: A day after outgoing GOP Representative Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against him on Monday, November 9, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth lambasted the move as a politically driven stunt.
Notably, Massie introduced a privileged resolution under House rules, requiring the House to take it up within two legislative days if it is recognized as privileged.
Hegseth calls out ‘disgruntled’ lawmaker, says impeachment is a stunt
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference on Tuesday, November 10, as the House of Representatives prepared to consider the resolution, with a vote potentially taking place as early as 5:30 pm ET. The House must act on the measure by Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
In his first Pentagon press briefing since May, Hegseth addressed the impeachment effort against him, saying the bipartisan push was about “policy disagreement,” not high crimes.
Notably, Hegseth's press conference began with a chilling warning to reporters that if they don’t stay “in line,” they would be “thrown out.”
Railing against Congressman Massie and repeatedly defending his performance, Hegseth said the move was not “oversight or accountability” but a “personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment.”
Hegseth accused Massie of trying to damage Trump, the country and the military during his final days in Congress.
“It is a farce. And it’s a stunt. And everybody knows it,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth argued that no Secretary of War or Defense Secretary had ever been impeached for carrying out military operations in the country's 250-year history.
He cited US military operations under former presidents Ronald Reagan in Lebanon, Bill Clinton in Kosovo, Barack Obama in Iraq and Syria, and Joe Biden in Iraq and Syria.
“History is clear and very straightforward,” Hegseth said, accusing Massie of trying to use policy disagreements as grounds for impeachment. He argued that the allegations did not amount to “high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery” or the offenses intended by the country's founders when they wrote the impeachment clause.
Hegseth compares his impeachment effort with similar moves against Trump
The Pentagon chief further said that what is happening now has happened earlier as well, comparing his impeachment with a similar move against President Donald Trump. “we’ve seen this show before.”
BREAKING: War Secretary Pete Hegseth compares impeachment efforts targeting him to the two impeachment proceedings against President Trump during his first term, accusing political opponents of attempting the same strategy against the current administration. “Now they’re trying a third time, this time against a member of his cabinet.” “If standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I’ll take that company every day of the week.” Download the FOX News app to follow this developing story: https://t.co/ISpW9Fc0R3
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 10, 2026
Hegseth said that both times Democrats tried to impeach President Trump, he came back stronger and “the American people sent him back to the White House.”
Hegseth said the proper way to challenge the administration's military decisions was through legislation, debate and the next presidential election. He also accused Democrats of wanting to turn the impeachment proceedings into a “show trial” against Trump and the Defense Secretary while Republicans still control Congress.
What might happen next
As the House of Representatives considers the impeachment resolution, lawmakers are expected to first consider a procedural motion to table (kill) the resolution or refer it to a committee.
If the House rejects a motion to table or refer the resolution to a committee, lawmakers could then vote on the impeachment resolution itself. A simple majority is required to approve the articles of impeachment.
If the House approves the articles, the matter will move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority of senators present is required to convict Hegseth and remove him from office.
