VIDEO: Impeachment Threat Drops

A sign displaying the word 'IMPEACHMENT' against a cloudy sky — Photo: gguy / Shutterstock

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says he will vote to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office.

Quick Take

Jeffries told ABC News he is “a hard yes” on impeaching Hegseth and said “Pete Hegseth has got to go.”
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie wrote a 34-page resolution with eight articles of impeachment, including a War Powers Resolution violation.
Hegseth calls the effort a “sham” and says it mirrors past attacks on President Trump.
President Trump says Hegseth is doing a “fantastic job” and has no plans to remove him.

A Hard Yes From the Top Democrat

Jeffries did not hedge. On ABC News’ This Week on November 8, 2026, he said he is “a hard yes” on the Hegseth resolution and declared Hegseth “has got to go”. He accused Hegseth of abusing his power and weakening national security. Jeffries tied those claims to the Iran war, saying it drove up prices for Americans and left the country less safe.

Those are serious charges. But the public record so far shows conclusions, not a detailed case. Jeffries has not laid out which specific orders or decisions supposedly broke the law. That gap matters. Impeachment is the most severe tool Congress has short of criminal charges, and it should rest on proven facts, not just strong political feelings.

Eight Articles Built Around a 1973 War Powers Law

The resolution driving this fight comes from Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, not a Democrat. His 34-page measure lists eight articles of impeachment, with one central claim: Hegseth violated the War Powers Resolution of 1973. That law requires presidents to notify Congress before sending troops into hostilities and to pull them out within 60 to 90 days without formal approval. The House formally logged the measure as House Resolution 1177.

The resolution argues Hegseth acted against his duty as defense secretary and against “constitutional government.” That is a legal theory, not yet a legal finding. No committee has held hearings. No sworn witnesses have testified publicly. No judge or jury has weighed the evidence. The House record shows an introduced resolution, nothing more at this stage.

Hegseth Calls It Political Theater

Hegseth has not stayed quiet. He released a video calling the impeachment push a “sham” and compared it to the two impeachments brought against Trump during his first term, saying, “it didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me”. He defended the Iran operation as a “courageous and historic effort” meant to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and he vowed not to back down.

Hegseth also went after Massie directly, calling him a “disgruntled, defeated congressman” filing “sham articles of impeachment”. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell backed him, saying Hegseth would not be deterred by lawmakers “seeking to score partisan points” through “phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists.” Supporters point to his record of restoring military readiness and rolling back diversity programs as proof he is doing the job right.

🚨 JUST IN: SecWar Pete Hegseth is about to face IMPEACHMENT and Hakeem Jeffries just confirmed he's a "HARD YES" on the resolution

"I believe there will be incredibly strong support for the resolution."

"I'm a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution…he has abused his… pic.twitter.com/HnfXLX0hp2

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 8, 2026

Trump Backs His Man, for Now

President Trump has publicly stood by his defense secretary, saying Hegseth is doing a “fantastic job” and showing no intention of replacing him. That backing matters politically. Cabinet impeachments are rare in American history. Lawmakers usually handle disputes with cabinet officials through oversight hearings, budget pressure, or asking for a resignation, not a full impeachment vote.

That rarity is worth remembering here. A policy fight or a war decision people disagree with is not automatically a “high crime or misdemeanor” under the Constitution. The question the House must answer is whether Hegseth’s conduct crossed into real abuse of office, not whether Democrats and a handful of Republicans simply dislike how he ran the Pentagon or the Iran operation.

What Comes Next in the House

A House vote on Massie’s resolution is expected soon, with Democrats now rallying behind it after midterm gains strengthened their hand. Passing the House would send the matter to a Senate trial, where a two-thirds vote is needed to remove Hegseth from office. That is an extremely high bar, and nothing in the current record suggests Senate Republicans are ready to cross it. For now, this remains a political showdown, not a settled case.