White House calls the April impeachment resolution a “totally unserious act”
White House spokesperson
“Secretary Hegseth is doing an outstanding job leading the Pentagon – as evidenced by the unprecedented military success of Operation Epic Fury. This is a totally unserious act by backbencher Democrats who are desperate for headlines, and no media outlet should grant them the attention they obviously crave.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
TIME attributes a written response to White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, introduced as a reply to Rep. Ansari’s impeachment resolution. The Irish Star carried the same statement. This is reported attribution rather than a White House release.
Before the quotation
Rep. Ansari filed H.Res. 1177 with six articles of impeachment on April 15, 2026. TIME introduces the statement as a response to that resolution.
After the quotation
The Pentagon issued a separate response the same day. Kelly does not address any specific allegation in the resolution.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to whether the House should impeach Hegseth, Kelly both praises his performance and dismisses the resolution itself as unserious. Rejecting the effort as illegitimate rather than engaging its allegations is a defence of the position under scrutiny.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Pete Hegseth
Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full caseFree Speech For People
“In supporting Trump’s constitutional violations and actively participating in, or even initiating, the actions noted above, Hegseth has failed to faithfully discharge the duties of his office. Further, Hegseth participated in multiple unauthorized, unsecured communications on Signal with individuals who are not government employees, jeopardizing national security and demonstrating a dangerous lack of judgment. He must be held accountable for his actions.”Read statement
MoveOn
“Hegseth has shown he cannot be trusted with the power of this office and this position. Impeachment and aggressive oversight are necessary steps to stop further abuses.”Read statement
Win Without War
“Hegseth is making people less safe — and it’s time for him to go.”Read statement