Trump Defends Hegseth, Slams Impeachment Effort
President Trump fiercely backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against impeachment, calling the effort by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie a "loser" and "sick guy."
The Cliff News | 10 November 2026
President Donald Trump has issued a strong defense of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, unequivocally backing his administration's top defense official amidst an impeachment push by a Republican colleague. Trump declared that Hegseth had performed a "good job" during his tenure, specifically citing the "winning" of two wars in Venezuela and Iran.
The President's assertion came just hours after Representative Thomas Massie initiated proceedings to impeach Hegseth. Trump, speaking at a White House press briefing, stated, "Yeah, I'll stand by him... He won two wars. He was in charge."
Trump Lashes Out at Massie
Beyond defending Hegseth, President Trump launched a scathing personal attack on Representative Massie. He labelled Massie as a "loser" and argued that the congressman "shouldn't be taking up the time of Congress." Trump escalated his criticism, describing Massie as a "sick guy."
The resolution to impeach Hegseth, introduced by Massie, centers primarily on the conflict in Iran but also includes references to Hegseth's involvement in military operations in Yemen and Venezuela.
Impeachment Vote Looms
A vote on the impeachment resolution in the House of Representatives is anticipated by mid-week. In response to the mounting pressure, Hegseth announced he would hold a press conference on Tuesday, his first in over 180 days, to address the impeachment threat. He defended the war as necessary, even if unpopular.
Representative Massie filed the impeachment resolution shortly after the House reconvened for its final six-week session before the end of Republican majorities on January 3, 2027. This period is often referred to as a "lame-duck sprint" to conclude the party's legislative agenda.
Trump Declares Iran War "Effectively Over"
In related comments, President Trump earlier indicated that he believes the military engagement in Iran is "militarily is effectively over." He clarified that the current objective is "just keeping it the status quo." Trump added that Iran has been "decapitated" and reiterated his intention to secure a long-term solution to defang Iran's nuclear program.
These remarks mark the President's most definitive statement regarding a potential shift away from threats to resume strikes on Iran, particularly following the Democratic victories in the US midterm elections.