11.11.2026 23:20
The U.S. House of Representatives blocked the advancement of an impeachment effort aimed at removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by a vote of 211 to 204. In the vote that blocked the 8-article motion submitted by Republican Thomas Massie, the absence of 11 Democrats sparked debate. President Donald Trump, while defending Hegseth, described Massie, from his own party, who attempted the impeachment effort, as "a total loser."
The heavy accusations against US President Trump's minister have turned into a fierce political battle in the US Congress. While the impeachment process against Hegseth was blocked, debates occurred among both Republican and Democratic politicians after the vote.
IMPEACHMENT INITIATIVE BLOCKED WITH 211 VOTES
The US House of Representatives blocked the advancement of an impeachment initiative aimed at removing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from office. The decision that stalled the 8-article impeachment motion prepared by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie was adopted by a vote of 211 to 204. Republicans who criticized some of Hegseth's practices also opposed the impeachment process. These members argued that the accusations against the Secretary could not be considered within the scope of "high crimes and misdemeanors" required for impeachment. As a result of the vote, the impeachment initiative against Hegseth could not advance. However, allegations regarding military operations and civilian casualties involving the Secretary remained at the center of political debate.
TRUMP BLASTS MASSIE FROM HIS OWN PARTY
US President Donald Trump supported Hegseth after the vote and sharply criticized the impeachment initiative. Trump said, "The Democrats' attempt to impeach Secretary of War Hegseth ended in a disastrous failure." Trump, stating that Republicans supported Hegseth, cited Thomas Massie, who submitted the impeachment articles, as the exception. The President described the congressman from his own party as "a complete loser." Trump continued his statement with the following words: "Victories in Venezuela and Iran, the highest recruitment numbers in the military's history (long waiting lists to join), and morale rarely seen before brought about the vindication of a great American patriot (Hegseth). Democrats continue to use and abuse the US as a weapon. They must be stopped."
ABSENCE OF 11 DEMOCRATS DRAWS REACTION
One of the most striking details of the vote was that 11 Democratic House members did not participate in the vote. Because the decision blocking the advancement of the impeachment initiative was adopted with 211 votes, if all of those 11 members had voted against it, the outcome of the vote could have changed. After the vote, some Democratic congress members reacted to these names. Egyptian-origin Abdul el-Sayed, who was said to have been elected as the first Muslim senator in US history in the midterm elections, also joined the criticism. El-Sayed said, "You should come to your duty and do your job."
WHAT ARE THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HEGSETH?
Thomas Massie, who prepared the impeachment motion, accused Hegseth of waging war without congressional authorization, weakening measures for the protection of civilians, and carrying out extrajudicial killings. The eight-article motion included allegations regarding American military operations in Iran, Yemen, Venezuela, and the Caribbean. Practices concerning military oversight, civilian casualties, and freedom of expression were also listed among the accusations. Massie requested not only Hegseth's removal from office but also a ban on his holding federal office in the future. However, the vote in the House of Representatives did not constitute a ruling on the accuracy of the accusations. With the motion referred to committee, the advancement of the impeachment process in the current congressional term was effectively blocked.
THE BALANCE IN CONGRESS WILL CHANGE IN JANUARY
In the current distribution of the US House of Representatives, Republicans hold 218 seats, Democrats 214, and independents 1. Two seats are vacant. However, the unofficial results of the November 3 midterm elections show that the majority in the new House of Representatives, which will take office in January, will pass to the Democrats. According to the reported results, Democrats won 255 seats and Republicans 167. Although there are 13 seats whose results are not yet final, Democrats are expected to obtain the majority. This change is significant in terms of the possibility that the allegations against Hegseth can be reconsidered in the new congressional term. However, there is no finalized decision regarding the launch of a new impeachment initiative.