# Hegseth calls impeachment 'political spectacle'

> Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as 'political spectacle' targeting troops.
- Title: Hegseth calls impeachment 'political spectacle' · ABC News
- Summary: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismisses impeachment effort as 'political spectacle' targeting troops.
- Keywords: impeachment, peter hegseth, congress, military, president trump, iran war, house of representatives, ABC News
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/hegseth-dismisses-impeachment-effort-political-spectacle/story?id=138002466
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: impeachment, peter hegseth, congress, military, president trump, iran war, house of representatives, news
## Hegseth dismisses impeachment
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the impeachment effort a 'political spectacle' targeting U.S. troops.

> What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment
## Impeachment resolution targets troops
Hegseth said the resolution 'puts a target on the backs' of U.S. troops and signals to enemies Congress will punish military for lawful operations.

> puts a target on the backs
## Hegseth frames impeachment as partisan
Hegseth described the efforts to impeach him as 'partisan politics' that mock the Constitution and attack military chain of command.

> mock the Constitution, they attack the chain of command
## Hegseth claims lawful military actions
Hegseth said strikes on drug-smuggling boats and the Iran war were lawful actions directed by President Trump.

> lawful actions directed by President Donald Trump
## Hegseth rejects impeachment process
Hegseth argued no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached for lawful military operations, including successful ones.

> no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations
## Hegseth predicts impeachment failure
Hegseth said the House and Senate will fail to impeach him, referencing past impeachments of President Trump that failed.

> They will fail again. And if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week
## Key takeaway

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says impeachment resolution targets U.S. troops and signals to enemies that Congress will punish military for lawful operations.