Trump Hails Setback for Hegseth Impeachment Bid as Democrats Signal Fight Will Continue

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting as President Donald Trump sits beside him. (ANI- File photo)

The US House voted 211–204 to send eight articles of impeachment to the Judiciary Committee. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated the issue could return when the new Congress convenes in January.

Washington: US President Donald Trump welcomed a House vote that stalled an effort to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The House voted 211–204 to refer the resolution to its Republican-led Judiciary Committee, keeping the eight articles of impeachment from an immediate vote on the floor. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries signalled that Democrats could revisit the issue in the next Congress.

A Republican Led the Impeachment Bid

Thomas Massie, an outgoing Republican representative from Kentucky, sponsored the resolution. He cast the only Republican vote against referring it to committee. Of the Republicans who voted, 210 backed the referral. All 203 Democrats who voted opposed it, while 11 Democrats and seven Republicans did not vote. One independent supported the referral.

Massie had hoped to draw support from Republicans uneasy about the administration’s military policy, particularly the war in Iran. He warned that sending the articles to committee would effectively end the effort in the outgoing House. The vote leaves the resolution with the Judiciary Committee, which would have to take further action for the current measure to advance through that route.

Trump Defends Hegseth’s Record

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the attempt to impeach Hegseth “has miserably FAILED!” He singled out Massie for criticism and praised Hegseth’s handling of military operations involving Iran and Venezuela. He also cited military recruitment in defending his Cabinet colleague. Before the vote, Trump had said he would stand by Hegseth even if the House voted to impeach him.

Hegseth defended his record at a Pentagon briefing earlier on Tuesday. He said his orders to US forces were lawful and argued that assessments of the Iran war would change over time. “History will judge the Iran war quite differently than the conventional wisdom right now,” he said.

Military Operations at the Centre of the Dispute

The eight articles allege that Hegseth unlawfully ordered military operations in Iran and Yemen, strikes on boats in the Caribbean, and the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Hegseth disputes the allegations. A central issue raised by the resolution is the authority the administration relied on to order those operations and the role Congress should have played in authorising them.

Jeffries accused Hegseth of abusing his authority and sharply criticised his role in the Iran war. The dispute gives the incoming Congress a set of questions it could pursue through hearings, including what legal authority the Pentagon invoked and how it informed lawmakers about the operations.

Democrats Look to the Next Congress

Jeffries described the impeachment effort as being in its early stages and said he would speak with Democratic members about whether to mount a fresh bid. Democrats are due to take control of the House in January after the midterm elections. That gives them control over the committee agenda and the ability to decide whether to hold hearings or bring a new resolution to the floor. Jeffries gave no timetable for a decision.