WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump threw his full weight behind embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, directly attacking a member of his own party who launched an effort to impeach the Pentagon chief over foreign military strikes.
Trump dismissed the challenge during a White House press briefing, declaring Hegseth had done a "good job" by "winning" conflicts in Venezuela and Iran. His fury centered on Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who filed the impeachment measure on the opening day of the post-midterm congressional session.
"Yeah, I'll stand by him... He won two wars. He was in charge," Trump said. The president quickly pivoted to attack his party colleague directly. "Massie is a loser. He shouldn't be taking up the time of Congress. The guy's a stone-cold loser."
Trump branded the Kentucky lawmaker a "sick guy."
Massie's resolution targets Hegseth primarily over military operations in Iran, while citing Pentagon-directed strikes in Yemen and Venezuela. The move forces an immediate floor dilemma for Republican leadership. Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill facing a tight six-week sprint before GOP majorities officially end when the newly elected Congress assumes power on January 3, 2027.
A full House vote on the impeachment resolution could land by mid-week.
Hegseth broke months of silence regarding the congressional challenge, announcing plans to hold a press conference on Tuesday — his first formal address to reporters in more than 180 days. Hegseth defended the operations, asserting the war effort remained necessary despite public backlash.
Trump sought to undercut the policy dispute by claiming the conflict in Iran has concluded from a tactical standpoint.
"Militarily is effectively over," Trump said, describing the operational posture in Tehran as "just keeping it the status quo."
Yet the White House confirmed that broader strategic objectives remain active. Trump claimed Iranian command infrastructure had been "decapitated," though he emphasized that Washington continues working toward a permanent framework to ensure Tehran's nuclear program is defanged. The remarks marked his clearest shift away from threats of renewed strikes following midterm election outcomes.
House leadership must now decide whether to table Massie's resolution or allow a direct floor vote before Wednesday.