Hegseth’s allies rally behind him as House prepares to hold impeachment vote today

WASHINGTON, DC: After Pentagon Chief Hegseth defended himself, saying the impeachment push was politically driven, administration officials and Republican allies came to his defense, saying Hegseth had done an “extraordinary job” and that they would defeat the impeachment effort.

Outgoing lawmaker Thomas Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He accused Hegseth of abusing his official power through actions taken during the Iran war and other military operations.

Colleagues defend Hegseth, saying he is ‘executing on President Trump’s mission’

As the House prepares to consider a procedural motion related to Hegseth’s impeachment resolution, his allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have defended the Pentagon chief's actions.

When House Speaker Mike Johnson was asked about the proposed impeachment of Hegseth, the Speaker said that Massie was indeed disgruntled and that bringing an impeachment resolution against the War Secretary during an international conflict was terrible.

Johnson also said that Hegseth had done an “extraordinary job” and that he expected Republicans to defeat the impeachment effort.

“The idea that you would impeach the Secretary of War at a time of international conflict sends a terrible message to our enemies and our allies, and we are not going to play that game,” Johnson told reporters.

Attorney General Todd Blanche also pushed back on criticism of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Blanche insisted that Hegseth was carrying out President Trump's agenda and working with the Justice Department to ensure his actions were legal.

“He is executing on President Trump’s mission.”

Notably, Blanche’s defense of Hegseth came ahead of the War Secretary's Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday.

Rubio says Hegseth is ‘trusted with job of keeping Americans safe’

Reporters asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Pete Hegseth’s impeachment and whether he could confidently say that “Hegseth's actions and orders on the Iran war, on drug boat strikes, on the capture of Maduro, on actions against Yemen have been entirely lawful.”

Rubio defended the administration's actions, saying, “The president is the commander in chief and he has a right to defend this country and address imminent threats.”

He later said that Hegseth had carried out direct orders from the commander in chief, who is “empowered and trusted with the job of keeping Americans safe.”

Hegseth says impeachment is a politically driven stunt

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.”

Hegseth accused Massie of trying to damage Trump, the country and the military in 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 lawful military operations in the country's 250-year history.

If the House advances the impeachment resolution today (November 10), it could proceed to a vote on the articles. If the House impeaches Hegseth, the matter will move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority of senators present is required to convict and remove him from office.