Stephen A. Smith criticized Democrats for backing an effort to impeach Pete Hegseth, calling it “exactly what we don’t need,” according to remarks he made Wednesday on his “Straight Shooter” podcast.
What Smith said
“To be honest and open on a very personal level, I am no fan of Pete Hegseth and how he has conducted himself as secretary of defense for the United States of America,” Smith said on the podcast. He added that he considers Hegseth “a modern-day DEI hire,” and said he had “no problem with him being fired,” but argued impeachment is “another matter entirely.”
Smith warned impeachment would “just lead to chaos down the line,” asking, “If you impeach Hegseth, and you get away with pulling that off, who’s next, Marco Rubio? Who’s next after that, Trump? More of the same? Is that what we’re talking about? It’s exactly what we don’t need.”
The failed vote he referenced
According to the account cited here, the effort to impeach Hegseth—introduced by outgoing GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky—fell short in the House, 211–204, with 11 Democratic members missing the vote. The same account said no other Republicans voted in favor besides Massie.
What the articles alleged
The report states Massie offered six articles of impeachment alleging that a “war against Iran” and strikes on Venezuela cartel drug boats were unlawful. It also said the articles claimed the Pentagon lacked authority to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and to conduct military strikes against Yemen.
Hegseth’s response before the vote
Before the vote, Hegseth told reporters, “Make no mistake about what is happening. This is not about me.” He said, “Politicians in Washington have accused the sailors and pilots who struck narco-terrorist boats of war crimes for doing their job. Senators in cute videos have suggested the same.”
In a post shared by the DOW Rapid Response account on Nov. 10, 2026, Hegseth warned, “This resolution is the next step: put the Secretary on trial today, and the men and women who carried out those orders tomorrow. If they want to come for the warriors, they are going to have to come through me.” He also argued that the resolution tells adversaries “that the United States will actually punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations,” concluding, “This is not patriotism. This is sabotage.”
Smith’s broader warning
Smith said he had warned about “overreach” after Democrats “won back control of Congress,” and predicted more impeachment attempts in the next Congress. “They’re going to do it anyway, in all likelihood,” he said, urging a “different strategy to minimize the chaos that has reigned over us.”
