‘Pete executed Trump’s direct orders’: Rubio defends Hegseth amid impeachment push

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday defended Secretary of War Pete Hegseth amid an impeachment effort against him, saying the Pentagon chief had carried out direct orders from President Donald Trump and that the military operations in Iran, Yemen and Venezuela had been effective.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Paris, Rubio defended the administration's national security actions, arguing that they were necessary to counter threats to the United States.

"So, as I said, on all those things, not only did Pete execute on a direct order from the Commander-in-Chief, who under our Constitution is empowered and trusted with the job of keeping Americans safe, but they did it quite effectively on all those fronts," Rubio said.

Addressing the US military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels, he argued that attempts to bring drugs into the country posed an imminent threat.

"I don't know how anyone could argue that drug dealers trying to import poison into our country is not an imminent threat. It's a real and imminent threat, and it's been addressed," he said.

Rubio also pointed to what he described as a longstanding threat from Iran, saying it had posed a danger to the US since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"We've discussed Iran extensively, and the threat they've posed to the United States--not in the last year, since 1979, a threat that's grown," he said.

On the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Rubio said it was, in many respects, a law enforcement operation, describing Maduro as a "fugitive from American justice who was captured and brought to justice".

He added that the operation had also "opened and paved the path for Venezuela to have a better future".

Rubio's defence comes as Hegseth faces an impeachment resolution introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The resolution contains eight articles accusing the Pentagon chief of violating the US Constitution and the War Powers Act, particularly over military operations in Iran without congressional authorisation.

It also raises questions about US operations against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and the capture of Maduro in Venezuela.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hegseth rejected the impeachment effort at his first Pentagon press briefing in six months, describing it as a political attack and insisting that the military operations were lawful.

"What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight; it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment," Hegseth said, referring to Massie.

Defending the operations, he said: "Iran, the cartels, Maduro, Yemen, every one was a lawful operation ordered by the commander in chief, then ordered by myself, notified to Congress and executed by American warriors who did their jobs."

Hegseth called the impeachment effort a "farce" and a "stunt", adding that he was proud of the operations and would carry them out again. He also warned that the move could hand America's adversaries a "propaganda victory".

President Donald Trump has publicly backed Hegseth. Following the Pentagon chief's press conference, Trump gave him an "A" PLUS PLUS PLUS for his defence and launched an attack on Massie in a post on Truth Social.

Trump described the Kentucky lawmaker as a "disgruntled, angry, defeated, former Congressman" and a "TOTAL LOSER!"

Massie introduced the privileged impeachment resolution in the House of Representatives on Monday, setting the stage for a congressional decision on the eight articles.

(With ANI inputs)