Ted Cruz says Hegseth likely to be impeached
The gist
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said Hegseth is "very likely" to be impeached over the Iran war.
A House vote could come this week, testing whether Republicans break with Trump.
How it unfolded
- Apr 15, 2026Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth over the U.S. war in Iran, with a dozen Democrats cosponsoring six articles.
- Sep 2026Republican Rep. Thomas Massie's resolution included charges tied to the Iran war and the U.S. military's killings of alleged drug traffickers.
- Nov 8, 2026Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries declared he was a "hard yes" on impeaching Hegseth.
Key terms
- articles of impeachment
- The process by which a legislature brings charges against an official for serious misconduct, possibly leading to removal after trial.
- congressional authorisation
- The U.S. Congress's constitutional authority over declaring war and related military matters.
- Minority leader
- The floor leader of the party holding fewer seats in the U.S. House, who coordinates legislation and speaks for that party.
Source: Wikipedia