Andrea Innocenti Republican Senator Thomas Massie introduced a motion to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the start of the new term . The motion, filed shortly before the midterms, calls for a floor vote as early as next Wednesday, thus introducing a new chapter of internal tension within the Republican Party.
Massie, who announced his retirement from politics at the end of the year, accuses Hegseth of conducting a series of military operations—from Iran to Venezuela—without Congressional consent. In a social media post, the senator reiterated that, while some colleagues consider Hegseth "effective," the charges of treason remain valid eight times.
The impeachment motion introduced by Thomas Massie
The official document, published online by the senator, lists eight charges against Hegseth. The first concerns the war against Iran , launched without any legislative authorization, violating Article 1 of the Constitution, which reserves the power to declare war to Congress.
War in Iran without authorization
According to the resolution, Hegseth ordered attacks on suspected smuggling vessels in the Persian Gulf, including a strike on an Iranian school, resulting in civilian casualties. These actions were described as "extrajudicial executions" and violations of international humanitarian law.
Operations in Venezuela
Another accusation concerns the kidnapping of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro , which Massie called an "illegal kidnapping." The motion's author argues that Hegseth violated national sovereignty rules, worsening already tense relations with the Caracas government.
Reactions from Republican leaders
President Donald Trump vigorously defended Hegseth, declaring at a White House press conference that the secretary "won two wars, in Iran and Venezuela" and calling Massie "a loser." Concurrently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the impeachment "unfair" and praised Hegseth as "a great professional."
House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled Massie's proposal a "sleazy ploy" and, as with the senator's previous impeachment attempt, threatened to suspend the session to prevent a vote. The Trump administration, despite the difficulties following the unfavorable results of the midterm elections, persists in supporting Hegseth, while other officials—like Governor Ron DeSantis—point the finger at the president and Congress for the recent electoral defeats.
Parliamentary prospects and possible outcomes
The motion will likely have the support of a minority of Republicans, but it will face a House still dominated by the conservative Party. Even if the House were to approve impeachment, the Senate—currently Republican-majority—remains reluctant to remove a senior defense official supported by the president.
Meanwhile, Hegseth responded with a video on X accusing Massie of "false articles of impeachment" and of being a "disgruntled and defeated congressman." The controversy is part of a broader criticism of the White House's defense policies, from members of Congress concerned about the lack of transparency regarding costs, civilian casualties, and exit strategies from the Iran conflict.