Trump says Hegseth should be praised, not impeached, after Massie reads articles

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, followed through Monday on his promise to bring articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He read them aloud on the House floor a little after 2 p.m. Eastern time ¹. President Trump answered that night on Truth Social, writing that Hegseth "should be praised, not Impeached" ¹.

Trump criticized Massie and pointed to what he called two victories, in Venezuela and Iran. He also wrote that recruitment is at an all-time high ¹. Hegseth said earlier Monday that he was not worried and planned a press conference Tuesday morning ¹.

On tapeLiveNOW from FOX · Nov 10

▶14:34

Congress, stand up for Pete!!!

What the articles say

The eight articles are a revised version of ones Massie first raised in September. Speaker Mike Johnson avoided a vote then by sending lawmakers home early ². They accuse Hegseth of helping wage the Iran war without congressional approval, in violation of the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 law that limits a president's ability to fight wars without Congress ².

They also cite strikes on alleged drug boats that the articles call extrajudicial killings. Other charges include the bombing of a school in Minab, Iran, and limits on press access to the Pentagon ². These are accusations in a House resolution. Hegseth has not been impeached, and the Senate has not ruled on anything.

From Channel GOPJeffries backs Massie's resolution to impeach HegsethHakeem Jeffries · 260 plays · captioned, with the source named

Democrats and some Republicans weigh in

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat who is expected to become speaker in January, said on ABC's This Week on Sunday that he is a hard yes on the resolution ³. Massie said some colleagues may vote for it because they want Hegseth gone, adding that he welcomes their vote ².

I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.

Republican views are mixed. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky said it is very possible the votes exist, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has said Hegseth should go ³. Johnson said, "We don't impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks" ².

What happens next

House leaders must act on the resolution within two legislative days. Opponents could try to table it or send it to a committee instead of voting on impeachment directly ³. The House can impeach with a majority vote. Removing Hegseth would take two-thirds of the 100-member Senate ²³.

Only two Cabinet secretaries have ever been impeached by the House: William Belknap in 1876 and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. The Senate convicted neither ³. Democrats are expected to hold about 54 Senate seats, short of the 67 needed ².

Trump said last weekend that Democratic impeachment threats amount to "extortion at the highest level." He asked the Justice Department to "look into this" ¹. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department would represent Hegseth in any proceedings ³.

That matters because it previews the fight to come. Democrats won both chambers in the midterms and take control in January ¹. This vote is a test of how many Republicans will break with the president before then. Trump's own post, "Congress, stand up for Pete!!!" shows he is lobbying for a defense ¹.

The Record

1. Nov 7, 2026Trump calls Democratic impeachment threats "extortion at the highest level" and asks the Justice Department to look into it ¹.
2. Nov 8, 2026Jeffries says on ABC's "This Week" that he is "a hard yes" on the Hegseth resolution ³.
3. Nov 9, 2026Massie reads eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on the House floor; Trump posts that night that Hegseth should be praised ¹².

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<h2>Trump says Hegseth should be praised, not impeached, after Massie reads articles</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-says-hegseth-should-be-praised-not-impeached-after-massie-reads-articles">The GOP Files</a> on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, followed through Monday on his promise to bring articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He read them aloud on the House floor a little after 2 p.m. Eastern time . President Trump answered that night on Truth Social, writing that Hegseth &quot;should be praised, not Impeached&quot; .</p> <p>Trump criticized Massie and pointed to what he called two victories, in Venezuela and Iran. He also wrote that recruitment is at an all-time high . Hegseth said earlier Monday that he was not worried and planned a press conference Tuesday morning .</p> <blockquote><p>Congress, stand up for Pete!!!</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>What the articles say</h2> <p>The eight articles are a revised version of ones Massie first raised in September. Speaker Mike Johnson avoided a vote then by sending lawmakers home early . They accuse Hegseth of helping wage the Iran war without congressional approval, in violation of the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 law that limits a president&#39;s ability to fight wars without Congress .</p> <p>They also cite strikes on alleged drug boats that the articles call extrajudicial killings. Other charges include the bombing of a school in Minab, Iran, and limits on press access to the Pentagon . These are accusations in a House resolution. Hegseth has not been impeached, and the Senate has not ruled on anything.</p> <h2>Democrats and some Republicans weigh in</h2> <p>House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat who is expected to become speaker in January, said on ABC&#39;s This Week on Sunday that he is a hard yes on the resolution . Massie said some colleagues may vote for it because they want Hegseth gone, adding that he welcomes their vote .</p> <blockquote><p>I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.</p><p>&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, Democrat-New York</p></blockquote> <p>Republican views are mixed. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky said it is very possible the votes exist, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina has said Hegseth should go . Johnson said, &quot;We don&#39;t impeach Cabinet secretaries for political gain or for cheap tricks&quot; .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>House leaders must act on the resolution within two legislative days. Opponents could try to table it or send it to a committee instead of voting on impeachment directly . The House can impeach with a majority vote. Removing Hegseth would take two-thirds of the 100-member Senate .</p> <p>Only two Cabinet secretaries have ever been impeached by the House: William Belknap in 1876 and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. The Senate convicted neither . Democrats are expected to hold about 54 Senate seats, short of the 67 needed .</p> <p>Trump said last weekend that Democratic impeachment threats amount to &quot;extortion at the highest level.&quot; He asked the Justice Department to &quot;look into this&quot; . Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department would represent Hegseth in any proceedings .</p> <p>That matters because it previews the fight to come. Democrats won both chambers in the midterms and take control in January . This vote is a test of how many Republicans will break with the president before then. Trump&#39;s own post, &quot;Congress, stand up for Pete!!!&quot; shows he is lobbying for a defense .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-says-hegseth-should-be-praised-not-impeached-after-massie-reads-articles">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-says-hegseth-should-be-praised-not-impeached-after-massie-reads-articles.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Trump says Hegseth should be praised, not impeached” (2026-11-10). thehill.com/homenews/administration/6209668-trump-defends-he
2. Al Jazeera, “US congressman files resolution to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth” (2026-11-09). aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/9/us-congressman-files-resolution
3. The Intercept, “Impeachment Vote Looms for Hegseth” (2026-11-09). theintercept.com/2026/11/09/impeachment-vote-looms-hegseth/

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