White House spokesperson.
Case
Congressional impeachment proposals against Pete Hegseth cite military operations, oversight, and Signal. Supporters say the allegations warrant removal; Hegseth disputed the description that anyone was “texting war plans,” and a Pentagon spokesperson called Ansari’s April impeachment effort a “charade.”
Role at the time: White House spokesperson
Statement summary
Responding to Rep. Ansari’s impeachment resolution, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly praised Hegseth’s leadership and dismissed the resolution as an unserious bid for attention.
“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.”
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.
Statement dates: April 15, 2026
Statement dates: April 15, 2026
