Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said he would not reintroduce articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if he resigned, as President Donald Trump defended the Pentagon chief and suggested he could be a popular contender for Tennessee's open Senate seat.

Massie Sets Resignation Deadline for Hegseth

On Wednesday, Massie issued the ultimatum in a post on X, responding to CNN correspondent Natasha Bertrand's report that he intended to pursue a vote on impeaching Hegseth.

"There is one contingency in which I won't reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns," Massie wrote.

Bertrand reported that Massie had told CNN he planned to trigger an impeachment vote when Congress reconvened next week.

She also cited multiple Republican sources who said they expected the measure to pass, suggesting the effort could receive support beyond Democratic lawmakers.

Trump Floats Hegseth's Tennessee Senate Bid

Meanwhile, Trump dismissed questions Wednesday about whether he was considering replacing Hegseth following Republicans' disappointing midterm performance, reported The Hill.

"No, I think he's doing a very good job," Trump said.

Asked whether he would want Hegseth to fill Sen. Marsha Blackburn's (R-Tenn.) Senate seat, Trump said, "I think he's doing a very good job, and I actually think he'd be very popular if he did that. But I haven't heard that at all."

Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major, has reportedly been quietly campaigning for the seat.

Blackburn won Tennessee's gubernatorial race against Democrat Jerri Green on Tuesday, opening a Senate vacancy.

Other potential Republican contenders include Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger.

Trump Weighs Hegseth's Future After GOP Losses

The Kobeissi Letter reported on X that Trump had been asking advisers whether to fire Hegseth following the Republicans' midterm losses, citing CBS News.

Some White House aides reportedly believe the blame could fall on Central Command chief Brad Cooper and Gen. Dan Caine.

Meanwhile, Vance blamed the election defeat on the Iran war, saying it was responsible for the GOP's losses.

Polymarket Odds Surge

Polygon (CRYPTO: POL)-based Polymarket traders now see a 49% chance of Hegseth leaving his position as U.S. Secretary of Defense by December 31, 2026, with odds jumping 13 percentage points in the last 24 hours.