US House Blocks Impeachment Effort Against Defense Secretary Hegseth

The US House of Representatives, led by Republicans, approved a motion blocking the impeachment procedure against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The vote came after a request from Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a political opponent of President Donald Trump. Hegseth held a combative press conference at the Pentagon, dismissing the impeachment efforts as a "farce" and a "political sabotage." He denied accusations that US forces targeted civilians, defended his record, and thanked Trump, who gave him a "10 out of 10" rating, for his support. The impeachment resolution was unlikely to succeed, as no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached in US history. The effort is seen as part of broader political tensions, including over the Iran war, which contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections.