Trump, Rubio Back Hegseth as Impeachment Push Fails to Gain Traction
Republican Representative Thomas Massie filed impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, following the GOP's heavy defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. The move seeks a House vote by Wednesday, with Massie accusing Hegseth of abuse of power over the Iran war. Hegseth dismissed the impeachment threat, defending his record on operations including "Epic Fury" and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, while announcing a rare press conference for Tuesday. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly backed him, calling the effort unjustified. The political turmoil coincides with public discontent over the Iran conflict, as an AP poll shows 60% of voters oppose the intervention. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are pushing for diplomacy, though Trump maintains a dual strategy of threats and negotiations with Tehran.