Focus Keyword: Jeffries hard yes Hegseth impeachment Meta Description: Jeffries hard yes Hegseth impeachment stance puts the defense secretary on notice as House Democrats prepare to vote on the resolution this week in Washington.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that he is a hard yes on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Jeffries made the statement on the ABC News program This Week, and his words left little room for doubt about where he stands. He said, “I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.” The resolution comes from Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and it accuses Hegseth of acting outside the law in Iran, Venezuela, and the Caribbean.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Who spoke | House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries |
| When he spoke | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Where he spoke | ABC News program This Week |
| His position | A hard yes on the Hegseth impeachment resolution |
| Resolution author | Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky |
| Articles of impeachment | Eight articles read into the Congressional Record on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 |
| Planned introduction | Monday, November 9, 2026 |
| Democratic caucus meeting | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 |
| What the articles allege | War in Iran without authorization, seizure of Nicolas Maduro without constitutional authority, and strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean |
| Hegseth response | Called the articles a sham in a video message on Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| House vote needed to impeach | A simple majority |
| Senate vote needed to remove | Two thirds of senators present |
| New Congress convenes | January 3, 2027 |
What Jeffries Said on Sunday
Jeffries did not hedge his answer. He told viewers of This Week that he supports the resolution without reservation, and he repeated the point in plain language. His exact words were, “I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.” That kind of direct answer is rare in Washington, where leaders often wait to see how a vote will play out before they commit. Jeffries chose a different path. He put his name behind the effort before the resolution was even formally introduced.
He went further than a simple yes. Jeffries said Hegseth abused his power and undermined national security. He also said Hegseth engineered a costly war of choice in Iran that drove up prices for American families.
Jeffries also said, “Pete Hegseth has got to go.” He was not calling for a hearing or a review. He was calling for removal. He predicted incredibly strong support among Democrats.
The Massie Resolution and Its Eight Articles
The resolution itself is the work of Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky. Massie lost his primary this year and leaves Congress in January. That detail matters because it helps explain why a Republican would bring an impeachment resolution against a defense secretary serving under a Republican president. Massie has little left to lose in political terms, and he has used that freedom to press a case that most members of his own party would avoid.
Massie read eight articles of impeachment into the Congressional Record on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. He has said he will introduce the resolution on Monday, November 9. Because impeachment resolutions are privileged, the House must take up the matter within two legislative days. That rule means the resolution cannot simply sit in a drawer. Once it is introduced, the House has to deal with it, either by voting on it or by voting to set it aside.
The eight articles focus on three sets of actions. First, they accuse Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional authorization. Second, they accuse him of seizing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without constitutional authority. Third, they accuse him of ordering strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. The articles cite the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and point to civilian casualties.
The case Massie is making rests on a simple idea. In his view, Congress holds the power to declare war, and a defense secretary cannot order military action that amounts to war without that approval. Massie claims better than 50 percent odds of passage. That is his own estimate, not a neutral forecast.
What Happens Next in the House
House Democrats plan to discuss the resolution on Tuesday, November 10, when the caucus meets for the first time since winning both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026. Jeffries is poised to become speaker of the House in January, and he would be the first Black speaker.
The rules give the resolution a fast track. Because impeachment resolutions are privileged, the House must take up the matter within two legislative days after it is introduced. Massie has said he will introduce it on Monday, November 9, so the clock starts running right away.
Republicans still hold the House until the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027. That means the first vote on the resolution, if one happens this year, will take place under Republican control. The outgoing majority could vote to table the resolution, which would end the effort before it reaches a final vote on the articles themselves.
Axios reported on Sunday that House Republican leaders now expect enough defections to pass the resolution, mainly from members who lost their seats and have little left to lose. Another House Republican told Fox News he really doubts it will pass, which shows that opinion inside the party is divided.
Hegseth Fights Back and Trump Stands by Him
Hegseth has rejected the effort in blunt terms. In a video message on Thursday, November 5, he called the articles a sham. He said the same approach had failed against President Trump twice. The reference was to the two impeachments of President Donald Trump, both of which ended without removal from office. Hegseth was making a simple point. In his view, impeachment has been used as a political weapon before, and it failed, and this effort will fail in the same way.
President Donald Trump was asked on Wednesday whether he would replace Hegseth and said no, adding that he thinks Hegseth is doing a very good job. Trump stood by Hegseth and praised his work, which means the administration will fight the resolution rather than try to defuse it.
The clash between Jeffries and Trump over Hegseth fits a wider pattern of conflict between the two men. Readers who want more background on that running fight can look at our report on Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats, which covers another recent clash between the president and congressional Democrats. The Hegseth fight is different because it centers on war powers and the use of military force, but the political heat is the same.
There is also a lighter side to the news coming out of Washington this week. Our report on Trump offers Dana White press secretary job covers the president offering the press secretary job to the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Miller Question and the Wider Political Fight
Jeffries also ruled out working with incoming White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who replaces Susie Wiles on Monday, November 9. The chief of staff is one of the most powerful jobs in the White House, because the person in that role controls access to the president and shapes the daily agenda. A House leader who says he will not work with the chief of staff is sending a message that the normal channels of cooperation are closed, at least for now.
Miller is a controversial figure, and his promotion has already drawn a strong reaction. Our report on Stephen Miller promotion angers industries looks at how business groups responded to the news. The anger from those groups shows that the reaction to Miller goes beyond partisan politics. It touches employers and industries that worry about how his policies will affect their workers and their businesses.
The Miller question also connects to the Hegseth fight in a practical way. If Jeffries will not work with Miller, then any negotiation between the House and the White House will have to go through other channels, or it will not happen at all. That makes compromise harder.
FAQs
What did Hakeem Jeffries say about impeaching Pete Hegseth?
Jeffries said on Sunday, November 8, 2026, on the ABC News program This Week, that he is a hard yes on the resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His exact words were, “I am a hard yes on the Hegseth resolution.” He also said Hegseth has got to go, and he predicted incredibly strong support among Democrats.
Who wrote the impeachment resolution against Hegseth?
The resolution is the work of Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who lost his primary this year and leaves Congress in January. Massie read eight articles of impeachment into the Congressional Record on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and has said he will introduce the resolution on Monday, November 9.
What do the eight articles accuse Hegseth of doing?
The eight articles accuse Hegseth of waging war in Iran without congressional authorization, seizing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without constitutional authority, and ordering strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. They cite the War Powers Resolution of 1973 and civilian casualties.
Can the House impeach Hegseth before the new Congress takes over?
The House impeaches by a simple majority, so a vote could happen while Republicans still hold the House until January 3, 2027, though the outgoing majority could vote to table the resolution. Removal needs two thirds of senators present, so the Senate would still have to vote to remove him.
Sources
Final Thoughts
Jeffries gave a clear answer on Sunday, and clarity is rare enough in Washington to be worth noting. He is a hard yes on impeaching Pete Hegseth, and he said so in words that no one can misread. The resolution itself comes from an unlikely source, a Republican who is leaving Congress, and it rests on serious charges about war, authority, and the limits of executive power. Whether it passes is still an open question. Axios reported that Republican leaders expect enough defections to pass it, while another Republican told Fox News he really doubts it will pass. Trump has said he will not replace Hegseth, and Hegseth has called the articles a sham. The House will have to choose within two legislative days after the resolution is introduced, and the Democratic caucus will discuss it on Tuesday, November 10.
