<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rep. <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/thomas-massie/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thomas Massie</a> (R-KY) referenced a new poll indicating that just over half of respondents support the impeachment of War Secretary <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/pete-hegseth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth</a> for initiating military action against <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/iran/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Iran</a> without congressional authorization.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the poll, 51% of registered voters support Hegseth’s impeachment, while 34% oppose it, and 15% are unsure. These findings were released in the <a href="https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_5WiMaRX.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">latest <em>Economist</em>/YouGov poll</a> on September 22, 2026.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When considering party affiliation, more Republicans oppose the impeachment than the combined number of Democrats and independents who support it. Additionally, voters who supported President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> in the 2024 election were less likely to support Hegseth’s impeachment compared to those who voted for former Vice President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/kamala-harris/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kamala Harris</a> in the previous election.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The poll results were released one week after House Speaker <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/mike-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) adjourned Congress until six days after the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/midterm-elections/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">midterm elections</a>. This decision followed Massie’s introduction of eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Massie stated, “This is why [Johnson] adjourned Congress to avoid the vote and why the president isn’t defending [Hegseth].”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While Trump has not directly commented on Massie’s impeachment resolution, Johnson and Attorney General <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/todd-blanche/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Todd Blanche</a> have defended Hegseth as the U.S. military involvement in Iran continues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The conflict in Iran is becoming increasingly unpopular, nearing seven months since it began. The poll indicates that 59% of respondents believe that starting a war with Iran was the wrong decision, while 24% think it was the right decision. A majority, 63%, support ending the war quickly, with only 15% opposing this view.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump has defended U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict, addressing it in part during his speech at the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/united-nations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">United Nations</a> General Assembly.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the poll indicating a slight majority dissatisfaction with Hegseth, it is unlikely that the Republican-led <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/house/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">House</a> will successfully vote to impeach him. The impeachment articles would need to be passed before the start of the 120th <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/congress/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Congress</a> in January 2027, giving the House less than two months to advance the charges to the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/senate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Senate</a>, which would also need to approve them.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <em>Economist</em>/YouGov poll surveyed 1,401 registered voters from September 18 to 21, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.</p>