US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth calls impeachment moves 'a farce'

Well, prior to those remarks, the U.S. president vowed to stand by Hegseth even if he is impeached. And this even as a new Reuters Ipsos poll finds that 71 percent of Americans support congressional action to end specifically the war with Iran. So for more on this, France 24's international affairs commentator Douglas Herbert joins me on set. Hi, Doug. So perhaps to be expected, a very combative and even long winded response from Pete Hegseth. He came out swinging. He came out fighting. There was no sense of this was a man who in any sense took away perhaps a chastening message from from the voters in this election where the war against Iran and anger over the war against Iran and its perceived effect on higher prices squeezing Americans was really the top issue driving this massive blue tsunami. There was no sense of taking that aboard. Rather, there was a doubling down, a real doubling down. It's interesting, as you mentioned Trump's remarks before this, right after Pete Hegseth delivered this very combative performance, defiant performance in his first press conference. And I might say, going back to May, in 180 days, it's been half a year, Trump basically put on his true social, self-styled social media platform. Pete Hegseth gets an A++++ for his defense against the disgruntled. Angry, defeated former congressman Thomas Massie, a, in capital letters, total loser. So Donald Trump also doubling down his support for a cabinet secretary who's been under a lot of fire, not just from Democrats, but from perhaps an increasing number of Republicans who are showing signs of souring on him. And I'll note in the past when Donald Trump has issued what seems like wholehearted support. For an embattled member of his own administration, often that's been almost a kiss of death because what's happened very shortly soon after is that officials either been sort of forced out or resigned or just been outright sacked. That hasn't happened. It might not happen. But what's what's interesting here is with Pete Hegseth, there really is this sense of being in that bubble. A bubble of, if not denial, just a bubble that is alternative facts and alternative reality that this war in Iran, uh, was a total success. And the articles of impeachment, uh, eight of them, eight articles of impeachment, as they're called, were brought in this house resolution by the Congressman, the outgoing Congressman, you mentioned the Republican Thomas Massie, and many of them, not all exclusively have to deal with what's called, well, it's called high crimes and misdemeanors, uh, in In general, but have to deal with what is. Perceived as illegal waging of war against Iran without seeking congressional authorization. Remember, under the Constitution, the Congress is the one with the power, war powers to declare war and also to fund armies and raise militia. So to also fund the war. And that was never really sought. Yes, sort of a notice was given in all of that. But this has been an end run in many respects around Congress. And other articles of impeachment dealt with Hegseth's alleged misconduct with regard to misconduct. That's, I'm putting it mildly, striking lethal strikes against boats alleged to be carrying drug smugglers near Latin America. Also, other alleged misconduct involving civilians. These are not light articles of impeachment. This is not petty vendettas. This is not petty retribution by a, as quote Hegseth called him, a disgruntled, defeated congressman. This is something that a lot of. Republicans, too, seem to be taking on board in what is a lame duck session of Congress. So, I mean, what happens in the House now, Doug? How likely do you think this effort is to succeed during this lame duck period? Two separate things going on here. An actual vote could come to the House floor as early as this evening, U.S. time in Washington. And that would be first a procedural vote. In order to bring the motion forward, and the procedural vote, if it were to fail, means the resolution itself would never come to the floor and would never actually be voted on. If the procedural vote, which is expected initially, passes, there would be this vote on the articles of impeachment. You only need a majority in the House. What's interesting here is, yes, the Democrats in this particular Congress, with 54 days left now, still are in a minority. They do not have the votes alone to impeach Pete Hegseth. What's interesting is that you only need three Republicans to defect. That is to cross the partisan aisle and to join Democrats in order to perhaps get that majority. Impeachment could pass with some defecting Republicans. Then it would go to the Senate for a trial vote. You need two thirds of senators. The Democrats are far short of being able to garner that even with defecting Republicans. Impeachment more likely than the much more less likely scenario of a conviction and a trial in the Senate and his physical removal from office. We'll see if the incoming Democratic majority in both houses factors into that from January. Because they'll bring it back. They have a chance when they come in. Douglas Herbert, thank you very much.