Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is urging President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before Congress considers articles of impeachment against the Pentagon chief over the administration’s military operations in Iran.
Massie issued the warning Thursday, October 15, responding to an unverified report suggesting Trump was considering dismissing Hegseth following the November midterm elections.
The report also claimed the president had privately blamed the defense secretary for the political fallout surrounding the ongoing war with Iran.
“Trump should fire Hegseth to avoid Hegseth’s impeachment. It’s the honorable thing to do,” Massie wrote on X.
The Hill, which reported Massie’s remarks, said it had not independently verified the claims regarding Trump’s alleged plans to dismiss Hegseth.
Massie’s latest comments follow his earlier effort to impeach the defense secretary, whom he has accused of engaging in unauthorized military action against Iran.
The Kentucky Republican introduced articles of impeachment in September, accusing Hegseth of committing “high crimes and misdemeanors” by participating in military operations that Massie contends were launched without congressional authorization.
He also alleged that Hegseth abused the powers of the Department of Defense.
The impeachment effort has become a contentious issue among congressional Republicans, particularly as the party approaches the November 3 midterm elections.
House GOP leaders postponed a vote originally expected in September, moving consideration of the impeachment resolution to the lame-duck session following the election.
The decision prompted criticism from Massie and Democratic lawmakers, who accused Republican leadership of deliberately avoiding a potentially controversial vote before Americans head to the polls.
Massie argued that the House adjourned early to prevent members from having to publicly take a position on Hegseth’s impeachment.
“The House recessed early to avoid the vote, so I will reintroduce Hegseth articles of impeachment when we return for the lame-duck session, regardless of the outcome of the midterm election,” Massie said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) rejected accusations that Republican leaders manipulated the congressional schedule for political reasons.
Johnson described those claims as “ridiculous,” denying that the delayed vote was intended to shield vulnerable Republican lawmakers from controversy.
Massie’s confrontation with the administration reflects his longstanding disagreements with Trump over presidential authority and congressional oversight.
The outgoing congressman has repeatedly challenged the administration’s military strategy in Iran, arguing that decisions involving war require authorization from Congress.
Earlier this year, Massie introduced a war powers resolution seeking to restrict the president’s ability to continue military operations against Iran without legislative approval, per The Hill.
That effort came as American military casualties mounted during the conflict.
Massie has maintained that Congress cannot surrender its constitutional responsibilities simply because military action is supported by a president from the same political party.
His opposition has placed him at odds with Trump, who supported Ed Gallrein in Kentucky’s Republican congressional primary earlier this year.
Gallrein defeated Massie, ending the incumbent’s bid for another term in the House.
Despite his primary defeat, Massie has continued pressing for action against Hegseth before leaving Congress.
His latest demand now places additional attention on the defense secretary’s future as lawmakers prepare to return for the post-election session.
Although Massie has introduced impeachment articles, Hegseth has not been impeached by the House, and the accusations have not been established through an impeachment vote.
Trump has also not publicly confirmed that he intends to remove Hegseth from his position.
For now, Massie is maintaining that the president should act before Congress takes up the impeachment effort.
