U.S. House Effectively Blocks Hegseth Impeachment... Trump: "Great American Patriot" (Updated)

Impeachment articles referred to Judiciary Committee in 211-204 vote
Could be revived in new Congress controlled by Democrats

The U.S. House of Representatives effectively blocked an effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment citing, among other issues, the alleged illegality of the war in the Middle East, but most Republicans joined in stopping them.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth Pete welcomes Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz Wladyslaw at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on the 10th (local time). Reuters-Yonhap

According to the Associated Press and the U.K.'s Guardian, the House on November 10 (local time) approved, by a vote of 211 to 204, a motion to refer the articles of impeachment against Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee. The vote was a procedural one on whether to refer the articles to the committee, not a vote for or against impeachment itself.

With the matter sent to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, a full House vote on impeachment was effectively derailed. Massie, who introduced the articles, was the only Republican to vote against the motion. Eleven Democrats did not participate in the vote.

Massie had previously introduced the articles, accusing Hegseth of violating the Constitution by, among other things, waging war against Iran without congressional authorization. The articles cited eight grounds in total, including civilian casualties in Iran and military operations in Venezuela and Yemen. Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, supported pursuing impeachment.

At a Pentagon press conference shortly before the vote that day, Hegseth criticized the impeachment effort as "a farce and a political stunt." President Donald Trump also strongly defended Hegseth.

Immediately after the vote, Trump said on Truth Social, his social media platform, that "the Democrats' attempt to impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth failed miserably," adding that "every Republican except Thomas Massie supported Hegseth." He also praised Hegseth as a "Great American Patriot," citing military successes in Venezuela and Iran.

However, foreign media noted that the impeachment issue could be taken up again in the new Congress, as Democrats are expected to hold majorities in both the House and Senate beginning in January 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.