Hegseth denounced the impeachment resolution against him as “sabotage” and defended his actions and policy decisions.
Published November 10, 2026
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the impeachment effort against him “an act of sabotage” in a press conference.
“This is a farce and a stunt,” he said Tuesday, calling criticism of him and the war against Iran a “policy disagreement.”
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced a resolution Monday to impeach Hegseth over the war against Iran, the attack on an alleged drug smuggling vessel and other alleged violations of U.S. law.
“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” Hegseth said Tuesday.
In a post on Truth Social after Hegseth’s remarks, US President Donald Trump defended Hegseth and his comments, saying, “Your defense of a disgruntled, angry, defeated former Congressman Thomas Massie, a total loser deserves an ‘A’ plus, plus, plus!”
The House is likely to take its first vote on impeachment action on Tuesday, a procedural vote on whether to consider the impeachment resolution.
“Well done”
In his first press conference at the Pentagon in about six months, Hegseth defended his role in the military action ordered by President Trump.
Hegseth compared military losses during his term to other historic conflicts, saying that about 60,000 Americans died in the Vietnam War and about 37,000 Americans died in the Korean War, but only 18 were lost in the war against Iran.
He cited several issues raised in the impeachment resolution against him, including the legality of strikes on drug ships and the abduction of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Hegseth said attacks on alleged drug smuggling vessels were necessary to protect the United States from drug traffickers, and each attack saved “thousands of American lives.” Hegseth said Maduro was “not kidnapped, he was put on trial.”
“I support all these operations. I was proud to run them, and I will do them again tomorrow,” Hegseth said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also defended Hegseth on Tuesday when asked about the impeachment effort, saying his actions, including attacks on drug ships and the war on Iran, were in response to “imminent threats” to the United States.
“The president of the United States is the commander in chief and has the right to protect this country and respond to immediate threats that threaten the United States, and he has done so,” Rubio said.
Rubio added that Hegseth acted on “direct orders from the commander-in-chief, who is trusted and tasked by our Constitution to protect the safety of the American people.”
