Photo: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech / U.S. Department of Defense / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
NEWPORT, R.I. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to reporters in Newport, Rhode Island, on Monday after his address at the Naval War College, announced that he will hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday to address a push in Congress to impeach him. It would be his first press conference in more than 180 days. The Tuesday event has been announced but has not been held. The Pentagon has confirmed it will start at 8 a.m. ET.
In Monday’s exchange with reporters in Newport, asked whether he has enough Republican support to defeat articles of impeachment, Hegseth said: “We’re not worried about that.” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie is trying to force a House vote on articles of impeachment tied to the Iran war. Hegseth defended that war, calling it a “bold move” by President Donald Trump. He said the choice was “don’t act and wish it away or take a bold move.” This follows his Naval War College address earlier Monday, covered in our earlier report.
Context: his defense of the war comes as many Republicans blame the conflict for the party’s midterm losses.
Why it matters: an impeachment vote against a sitting defense secretary would be rare, and the outcome depends on how many House Republicans side with Massie. Still unknown: when a vote could be forced, how many members would back the articles, and what Hegseth will say on Tuesday.
File photo: Hegseth at the Pentagon in April 2025. It is not from Monday’s remarks.
JBizNews Desk | Newport, R.I.
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.
