Defiant Hegseth blasts impeachment 'farce' ahead of US House vote

Key Points:

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth condemned impeachment efforts against him as a "farce" and defended his record amid a House vote that could advance the process, with eight articles accusing him of "high crimes and misdemeanors" related to the Iran war and a US military raid in Venezuela.
• The impeachment resolution may pass in the Republican-controlled House before Democrats take over in January, but a Senate conviction is unlikely due to the two-thirds majority requirement and current Republican Senate control.
• Hegseth received support from former President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, while some Republicans remain divided; outgoing Representative Thomas Massie introduced the articles and is optimistic about advancing the debate.
• Hegseth defended the Iran war as necessary and lawful, contrasting with Democratic criticism that he abused power and undermined national security; Democrats have vowed to investigate his Pentagon management if he remains in office.
• The impeachment marks a rare challenge to a civilian military leader, with Hegseth branding himself "secretary of war" and pushing for a military rebrand and budget increase, though some Republicans see his strained congressional relations as a political liability.