Trump gets a much-needed victory with Pete Hegseth’s impeachment stymied

Résumé détaillé

Beleagured president receives welcome shot in the arm as Republicans unite to save his defense secretary one week on from disastrous midterms wipewout, writes Joe Sommerlad

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President Donald Trump secured a much-need victory Tuesday when he gleefully celebrated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s escaped impeachment – for now – after the House of Representatives effectively voted to shelve a resolution seeking his removal.

Rebel Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie had filed articles of impeachment against Hegseth Monday, accusing him of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for waging the war with Iran without first securing congressional approval and of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean by bombing alleged drug boats.

However, with the chamber’s GOP majority still in place until January, the House voted 211-204 to pass the matter onto the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, where it is all but certain to languish.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his support for Hegseth in recent days, saying it was “very unfair” to persecute him given the “success” of his tenure at the Pentagon and was quick to crow about the outcome.

“The Democrats’ attempt to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has miserably FAILED!” the president wrote joyfully on Truth Social.

“Every single Republican, except Thomas Massie, a major LOSER, voted in favor of Pete. Again, Victories in Venezuela and Iran, the Best Recruitment Numbers in the History of the Military (Long waiting lists to get in!), and Spirit like rarely seen before led to the EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot.

“The Democrats continue to weaponize and abuse the United States of America. They must be stopped!”

A day earlier, Trump had called on Republicans to “Stand up for Pete!” via the same platform and, as it turned out, they did – leaving Democrats to seethe over the 11 members of their caucus who failed to show up and make the difference.

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