White House faces internal debate over possible impeachment of Defense Secretary Hegseth
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
President Donald Trump said he would support Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth amid a congressional push for impeachment, while Republican Rep. Thomas Massie warned the official could lose his job before the end of the year.
President Donald Trump told CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins he would stand by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if the congressman were impeached, adding that Rep. Thomas Massie was a "loser" and criticizing the network’s ratings.
Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth, alleging violations of constitutional war powers and unauthorized military actions in Iran. He told Collins that impeachment is a "polite" measure aimed at removing Hegseth from his post and warned that Democrats, expected to control Congress in January, would be less restrained.
Collins reported that sources inside the White House expressed concern about the GOP’s ability to defend Hegseth after the recent midterm elections, which saw the party lose control of both chambers. Some officials reportedly believe the defense secretary’s position has become slightly more secure following the appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, who was described as less confident in Hegseth’s leadership.
Hegseth is scheduled to hold a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday and has released a video defending himself against the impeachment articles, according to a White House source cited by Collins.
The Daily Beast sought comment from the White House but had not received a response at the time of publication.