Rep. Comer to Newsmax: 'Very Possible' Votes Exist to Impeach Hegseth

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Newsmax Friday it is "very possible" the votes exist to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing Republican concerns over the Iran war and its undefined exit strategy.

Comer made the remarks on "Finnerty" as fellow Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who lost his May primary to a challenger backed by President Donald Trump, prepares to force a House vote on removing Hegseth.

Massie introduced eight articles of impeachment in September, but the House never voted after Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., ended the session early ahead of the midterms.

Massie said this week that only Hegseth's resignation would stop him from reintroducing them.

"There's a lot of anger over the entire Iran fiasco," Comer said. "I think the voters made that very clear. And I think the Republican voters are more upset than the Democrat voters."

He said the war became an issue on the campaign trail.

"We really didn't know how to message what the exit strategy was, because I don't think anybody in Congress knows what the exit strategy is," Comer said.

Asked whether he would vote to impeach, Comer did not commit.

"Well, that's not how you're supposed to impeach," he said. "But I do think that Hegseth needs to come to Congress and explain what the strategy is."

Comer said lawmakers do not know the war's cost.

"I don't know how much they spent on Iran. No member of Congress knows," he said.

Earlier this year, the White House asked Congress for $87.6 billion in supplemental spending, including $67 billion for the Pentagon's war-related needs.

"We know that the administration is asking for a significant amount of money to be able to pay to continue the war, and I don't think the votes are there," Comer said, adding that Republicans have expressed their concerns to the White House and to Hegseth.

"But the fact that no one knows what the exit strategy is, that alone is a problem," he said.

Comer said that while he has "nothing against" Hegseth, "he needs to really be prepared to answer a lot of questions that not just members of Congress have, but obviously the American people have."

Hegseth has said he will stay.

In a video released Thursday, Hegseth referred to Massie as "a disgruntled, defeated congressman" who, "along with all his Democrat allies, has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly."

Trump has publicly supported him, while Vice President JD Vance has attributed Republicans' midterm losses to the war.

GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:

NEWSMAXis the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAXis one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAXtoday.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie,Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX+and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.

Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX+on your smartphone or home TV app.

Watch NEWSMAXanytime, anywhere!

Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com

© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.