Trump says he’ll ‘stand by’ Hegseth as ‘loser’ Massie renews impeachment effort

President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support of War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday, saying he’ll “stand by” his appointee despite an impeachment effort led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), whom the president called a “loser.”Trump previously said he has “every intention” of keeping Hegseth in charge of the War Department, but his latest backing marks the first support since Massie introduced articles of impeachment against the Cabinet official.“Yeah, I’ll stand by him,” Trump said when asked if he would keep Hegseth in his post if impeachment efforts are successful. The president went on to cite what he frames as successes under Hegseth’s leadership.“He won two wars,” he said, referring to the military operation in Venezuela and the continued war in Iran. “He was in charge. We all won. I had great people.”Trump has previously said he does not credit Hegseth with the victory in Venezuela, in which U.S. forces captured dictator Nicolas Maduro, although the president said the war secretary played a role.Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Monday, and most of the eight articles detail Hegseth’s actions on recent military operations in Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela without prior authorization from Congress. They argue that the secretary’s usurping of Congress’s will, as outlined in the War Powers Resolution of 1973, amounts to high crimes and misdemeanors.When asked by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins what his thoughts were on Massie’s move, Trump reacted with vitriol.“Massie’s a loser,” Trump said. “Just like you’re a loser at CNN, just like your ratings are a loser. Massie is a loser, stone-cold loser.”Hegseth has been adamant that he has no plans to step down as war secretary, adding on Monday that the Pentagon is “not worried” about Massie’s impeachment effort, even if it gets support from Republicans.MASSIE REINTRODUCES ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST HEGSETH. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS NEXTThe impeachment effort could gain GOP support, as many in the party have moved to blame the Iran war for a historic loss in the midterm elections in which Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.Hegseth is set to address the articles of impeachment during a press conference on Tuesday at the Pentagon. It will be the first time he has held a meeting with the media at the defense headquarters since May.