House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Monday that impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while the United States is engaged in military operations abroad would send a damaging message to American allies and adversaries, as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced updated articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also described Democrats’ victory in the House during the November 3 midterm elections as a “great tragedy,” underscoring the political consequences of the Republican Party’s losses as Congress returned to Washington for its final weeks under GOP control.
“Impeaching a Cabinet secretary right now, especially the Department of War in the middle of hostilities abroad, would be a terrible, terrible look, a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see that,” Johnson told reporters Monday, according to video published by CBS News.
Johnson argued that the impeachment effort was politically motivated rather than a legitimate response to misconduct.
“We don’t impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks, and I think that’s what this is and I think everybody knows it,” he said.
His remarks came as Massie renewed an effort to force a House vote on Hegseth’s removal, placing Republican lawmakers in the position of deciding whether to support the defense secretary following their party’s midterm defeats.
Johnson Warns Impeachment Would Send the Wrong Message During Iran War
Johnson’s principal objection focused on the timing of the impeachment effort, which comes while American forces remain engaged in the war against Iran and other military operations overseas.
The speaker suggested that removing or attempting to remove the defense secretary during active hostilities could undermine perceptions of American stability and military leadership.
His argument centered on how foreign governments might interpret a congressional impeachment proceeding involving the official responsible for overseeing the U.S. military.
Johnson did not establish that impeachment proceedings would interfere with military operations. Rather, he presented the potential diplomatic and strategic consequences as a reason for lawmakers to reject Massie’s effort.
The comments also reflect a broader disagreement among Republicans over whether criticism of Hegseth’s handling of the Iran war warrants congressional action or should be addressed through other political and administrative channels.
While Johnson has opposed the impeachment push, several Republican lawmakers have expressed frustration with the administration’s military strategy and the defense secretary’s performance.
Johnson Calls Democratic House Victory a “Great Tragedy”
Johnson also addressed the results of the November 3 midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of the House beginning with the next Congress in January.
The speaker characterized the Democratic victory as a “great tragedy,” according to the CBS News video, reflecting his opposition to the incoming shift in congressional leadership.
The election results have created a difficult political environment for Republicans, with the war against Iran emerging as a significant issue in the campaign and contributing to dissatisfaction with the administration.
Although Democrats won the elections necessary to control the next House, Republicans retain their existing congressional majority until the new Congress convenes in January.
That distinction is particularly important for the impeachment effort, which could come before the current House while Johnson remains speaker and Republicans continue to control the chamber.
Democrats’ incoming majority will also give them greater authority over congressional investigations, committee leadership and oversight of the Defense Department.
Johnson’s comments therefore came amid two overlapping political challenges: the possibility of an impeachment vote during the current session and the approaching transfer of House control to Democrats.
Massie Introduces Eight Updated Articles of Impeachment
Massie introduced an updated impeachment resolution Monday accusing Hegseth of high crimes and misdemeanors related to the administration’s military operations and the exercise of executive authority.
According to CBS News’ reporting on the resolution, the 34-page measure contains eight articles, including three concerning the administration’s decision to wage war against Iran without congressional authorization.
Other allegations concern the protection of civilians during military operations, strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the Pentagon’s treatment of Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Massie alleges that Hegseth exceeded the authority of his office and violated constitutional and legal restrictions on military action.
In the resolution, Massie argued that Hegseth had “knowingly executed and implemented unlawful orders” and would remain a threat to constitutional government if allowed to continue serving.
The allegations are contested and have not been established by a Senate impeachment trial or a judicial finding.
Massie initially introduced impeachment articles in September, but House leaders adjourned the chamber before the measure could advance to a vote. His updated filing restarts the procedural process that could bring the resolution before lawmakers this week.
The congressman has argued that the question before the House is not whether members approve of Hegseth’s policies or military decisions, but whether his actions constitute impeachable offenses.
The impeachment effort has placed Johnson and other Republican leaders under pressure as Democrats prepare to assume control of Congress in January.
Democratic Leaders Support Impeachment as Republicans Weigh Their Votes
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has publicly endorsed the effort to impeach Hegseth, indicating that Democrats are likely to provide substantial support for the resolution.
During a November 8 appearance on ABC’s This Week, Jeffries described himself as a “hard yes” on impeachment and said he expected strong support among House Democrats.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also backed the effort, saying Hegseth should face trial in the Senate.
With Republicans holding a narrow House majority until January, the resolution could advance if enough Republican lawmakers join Democrats in supporting it.
Republican Rep. French Hill of Arkansas has indicated that he is willing to consider the allegations but has not committed to voting for impeachment.
Speaking on CBS News’ Face the Nation on November 8, Hill said he wanted to hear the debate before determining whether Hegseth’s conduct warranted impeachment or another response.
“I want to hear the debate on it to see if it merits impeachment versus some other disciplinary action or action by the president if he’s not getting the job done in leading the Department of War,” Hill said.
Hill emphasized that dissatisfaction with a Cabinet secretary’s job performance does not automatically establish grounds for impeachment.
Johnson’s opposition contrasts with those Republicans who have expressed a willingness to consider Massie’s allegations, illustrating divisions within the party over Hegseth’s leadership and the appropriate congressional response.
Hegseth Rejects Impeachment Effort as Trump Defends His Leadership
Hegseth has rejected Massie’s impeachment effort and characterized it as an attempt by political opponents to remove him over disagreements with the administration’s policies.
In a video statement published November 5, Hegseth described Massie as a “disgruntled, defeated congressman” and dismissed the impeachment articles as politically motivated.
“Didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me,” Hegseth said, referring to previous impeachment efforts against the president.
The defense secretary has defended the administration’s military campaign against Iran, arguing that the operations were necessary to confront threats from Tehran and protect American national security.
President Donald Trump has also continued to support Hegseth, rejecting calls for his removal and criticizing Massie’s impeachment effort.
Trump’s public support has reinforced the position taken by Johnson, although the House retains the constitutional authority to impeach federal civil officers regardless of the president’s objections.
House Could Vote This Week, but Senate Removal Remains a Separate Question
Massie’s updated resolution could force the House to address Hegseth’s impeachment within days under the chamber’s procedural rules.
Republican leaders may seek procedural alternatives to a direct vote on the articles, including motions to table the resolution or refer it to committee.
Even if the House votes to impeach Hegseth, that decision would not automatically remove him from office.
Under the Constitution, impeachment requires a simple majority in the House, while conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote of senators present.
Republicans currently control the Senate, making conviction a separate and potentially more difficult challenge for supporters of the impeachment effort.
The dispute comes at a politically sensitive moment for the administration, as Republicans face the consequences of their midterm losses and Democrats prepare to exercise greater oversight of the Pentagon.
For Johnson, the immediate concern is the message an impeachment vote would send while American forces remain engaged overseas. For Massie and supporters of the resolution, the central issue is whether Hegseth’s conduct has violated the constitutional limits of his office.
Those competing arguments are now headed toward a possible confrontation on the House floor, with Johnson warning that impeaching the defense secretary during ongoing hostilities would be “a terrible thing for our allies and our enemies to see.”