You would think a Republican congressman would have the President’s full backing. Instead, Rep. Thomas Massie is calling for the War Secretary’s removal while President Trump calls him a loser. This is not a quiet disagreement behind closed doors. It is a public fight over who runs the Pentagon and how we wage war.
On Monday, President Trump took to Truth Social to slam the congressman. He called Massie “a total loser” while defending Pete Hegseth. The President said the War Secretary “should be praised, not impeached.” Trump went further, declaring Massie is trying to impeach “perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the Country.” This defense comes right after Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.
The Impeachment Grounds
Massie did not say Hegseth failed to do his job. He said he did it too well, but in the wrong way. The congressman told CNN that he is not impeaching Hegseth for being ineffective. He argued Hegseth was effective at “killing 200 schoolchildren” and “bombing fishing boats.” Massie also called the operation in Venezuela an “unconstitutional kidnapping.” He believes Hegseth broke the law by acting without Congress approval.
The articles focus on military moves in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela. They claim Hegseth ignored the War Powers Resolution of 1973. This law says Congress must authorize war efforts. Massie says ignoring this rule amounts to “high crimes and misdemeanors.” He told the media that his effort is just a “polite thing” compared to what Democrats might do later.
Trump’s Public Stand
President Trump made his position clear when asked about the move. He said, “Yeah, I’ll stand by him.” This is the first time the President has backed Hegseth since the articles were introduced. Trump cited two victories under Hegseth’s leadership. He said, “He won two wars,” referring to operations in Venezuela and Iran.
Trump also noted that Hegseth had “great people” in charge. He did not credit Hegseth with the full victory in Venezuela but said the War Secretary played a role. When CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked about Massie’s move, Trump reacted with strong words. He called Massie a “stone-cold loser” and linked the congressman to CNN’s “loser” ratings.
Hegseth responded quickly to the President’s post. He shared a screenshot and wrote, according to Fox News, “Thank you Mr. President. Like you, we will never back down.” The War Secretary also said the Pentagon is “not worried” about the impeachment effort. He plans to hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Tuesday to address the charges.
Who Could Replace Him
Massie is looking ahead to a time when Hegseth might not be in charge. He told CNN there is a “high probability” that Hegseth “won’t make it until December 31 of this year.” Massie believes the War Secretary will resign before Democrats take control of Congress next year. He warned that a new Congress would hold aggressive hearings and trials.
When asked who should replace Hegseth, Massie named a familiar face. “I think Ron DeSantis would be great at it,” Massie said, according to the Washington Examiner. He praised DeSantis’s military background as a Navy JAG officer. Massie believes DeSantis understands the legal boundaries between the legislative and executive branches. He noted that DeSantis likely does not want the job, which is why he feels safe naming him.
Massie also warned that Trump faces a tough road ahead. He said anyone Trump picks to replace Hegseth will face a Senate that is “not going to be very kind.” He argued it is better for the President to remove Hegseth now while he can still get a replacement confirmed. The President has “every intention” of keeping Hegseth, but the political pressure is mounting.
This fight shows that loyalty in the party has its limits. Trump stands firm, but a Republican lawmaker is willing to risk the President’s anger to uphold what he sees as the Constitution. The question now is whether the House will follow Massie’s lead or stand with the President.
