US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected an impeachment push against him, stating that no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defence has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations in 250 years of American history.

Speaking at his first Pentagon press briefing in six months on Tuesday, Hegseth responded to articles of impeachment introduced the previous day by outgoing Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

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“In the 250 years of our American republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defense has ever been impeached for carrying out lawful military operations,” he told reporters.

“And in our case, successful ones, at that. Not once. War Powers Resolution or not. Not under Reagan in Lebanon, not under Clinton in Kosovo, not under Obama in Iraq and Syria, not under Biden in Iraq and Syria. That’s the standard. The history is clear and it’s very straightforward.”

Massie’s resolution contains eight articles focused on the US war against Iran, operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, actions related to Venezuela, and strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.

Hegseth described the effort as “a farce” and “a stunt,” calling it a political spectacle driven by ego and resentment from a “disgruntled and defeated congressman.”

He argued that the charges reflected policy disagreements rather than the high crimes and misdemeanours intended by the Constitution’s impeachment clause.

“This is not patriotism. This is sabotage,” Hegseth said.

He added that the move told adversaries including Iran and cartels that the United States would punish its own warriors and civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful operations.

Hegseth said he was proud of the operations ordered by the Commander in Chief and executed by American forces, and that he would do the same again.

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The briefing marked his first public appearance at the Pentagon podium since May, amid ongoing intermittent US military activity in the Middle East and elsewhere.