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Well, prior to those remarks, the US president vowed to stand by Hegsth even if he is impeached. And this even as a new Reuters Ipsos poll finds that 71% 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. Um so perhaps to be expected a very combative and even long-winded response from Pete Hegathth. Yeah, he came out swinging. He came out fighting. There was no sense if this was a man who in any sense took away perhaps a chasening message 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 uh driving uh this massive blue tsunami. There was no sense uh of taking that aboard. Uh rather there was a doubling down, a real doubling down. What's interesting is you mentioned Trump's remarks before this uh right after Pete Hexath delivered this very combative performance, defiant performance uh in his first press conference and I might say going back to May in 180 days, it's been half a year. Uh he uh Trump basically put on his true social uh self-styled social media platform, Pete Hicksth gets an A plus for his defense against the disgruntled, angry, defeated former Congressman Thomas Massie. a in capital
letter letters, total loser. So, Donald Trump uh also doubling down in his support for a cabinet uh 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 short 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 Hegset, 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 high crimes and misdemeanors uh in general but have to deal with uh what is perceived says 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. So a notice was given in all of that. But this has been an endun uh in many respects around Congress and other articles of impeachment dealt with uh heg says alleged misconduct with regard to misconduct. That's I'm putting it mildly. Striking uh 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 uh Hegathth called him a disgruntled defeated congressman. This is something that a lot of uh Republicans too seem to be taking on board in wow 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 uh this evening, US time in Washington. Um, and that would be first a procedural vote in order to bring 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 Hegset. What's interesting is that he only need three Republicans to defect. That is to cross the partisan aisle and to join Democrats in order to perap perhaps get that majority. impeachment could pass with some defecting Republicans. Then it would go to the Senate for a trial vote. You need 2/3 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 uh from January. They'll bring it back. They have a chance. Douglas Herbert, thank you very much.
