Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) faces a divided reception from his constituents in northern Kentucky following his push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the conduct of the Iran war. Massie, who is outgoing after losing his primary earlier this year, has escalated his confrontation with the Trump administration by leading an effort to remove the Pentagon chief, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from some voters and praise from others for his independence.
What the Left Is Saying
Supporters of the impeachment effort in Massie's district argue that the Defense Secretary's handling of the conflict in Iran raises constitutional concerns and reflects a lack of strategic planning. Richard Hassebrock, a Covington resident, stated he welcomed the impeachment push despite not always agreeing with Massie. "I'm not always a huge fan of Thomas Massie, but on this point I am," Hassebrock said.
Anthony Tuemler, also of Covington, supported the impeachment and accused Hegseth of violating the Constitution through his conduct of the war. While Tuemler expressed relief that Massie is leaving office, he credited the congressman with speaking up when necessary. "But the only thing I'm distressed about or sorry about is like when it came time to say the right things, Massie was the one who did it," Tuemler said.
Rilla, a Fort Wright resident, opposed the Iran war, particularly the prospect of military action without congressional involvement. "I don't think anyone should just go in and declare war without Congress being a part of it," she said. She described Massie's motives as mixed, noting she was proud of his willingness to stand up to the president but disappointed by his electoral defeat.
What the Right Is Saying
Critics of the impeachment effort within the district characterize it as politically motivated and harmful to the administration's agenda. Craig Cuskey, who works in Covington but lives outside the district, described the push as "pure spite" and "petty," stating that his opinion of Massie had deteriorated. Cuskey defended Hegseth, arguing that the Defense Secretary was carrying out directives from the commander in chief.
Randall Thompson, a Newport resident dressed in military uniform for Veterans Day, voiced support for Hegseth, citing their shared experience in the Middle East. "I support the troops and Pete Hegseth," Thompson said, noting he deployed to the same area of Iraq as the former Fox News host. He dismissed the impeachment effort as a distraction from supporting military leadership.
Phil Wiseman, an Independence resident and self-described "RINO" (Republican in Name Only), questioned the utility of the impeachment process rather than Hegseth's personal conduct. "I don't see a definable outcome," Wiseman said. He voted for an independent candidate in the primary rather than supporting Rep.-elect Ed Gallrein, the Trump-endorsed Republican who defeated Massie, indicating a broader dissatisfaction with both the incumbent and the party establishment.
What the Numbers Show
House Republicans voted to refer Massie's impeachment effort against Hegseth to committee, advancing the legislative process despite leadership opposition. Massie lost his seat in the Kentucky primary earlier this year to Ed Gallrein, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Democrats, who are projected to take the House gavel in January, have signaled they will likely pursue the impeachment of Hegseth, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) voicing support for the effort.
Wiseman, who identifies as a "RINO"—a term often used derisively by conservatives for "Republican in Name Only"—noted that his family has a deep military background. His father was a 27-year military veteran and his son served in the Marine Corps. "We all had the same discussion," Wiseman said. "Who is advising him? Because this [war] is very ill-thought-out and not well-planned." He compared the Iran conflict to the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, questioning the quality of military advice Hegseth received.
Randall Thompson of Newport pointed to his shared military experience with Hegseth in the Middle East. Thompson, who deployed to the same area of Iraq as the former Fox News host, stated, "I support the troops and Pete Hegseth." He walked near Covington's Mainstrasse Village corridor in a military uniform for Veterans Day with his children.
The Bottom Line
The split reaction in Kentucky's 4th District highlights the ongoing tension between traditional conservative principles of limited government and war powers and the current Republican leadership's alignment with the Trump administration's foreign policy. As Democrats prepare to assume control of the House, they may leverage Massie's groundwork to advance impeachment proceedings against Hegseth, potentially extending the political fallout from the Iran conflict into the new congressional session.
Voters in the region remain divided on whether Massie's actions represented principled independence or personal grievance against the president. Hassebrock praised Massie's consistency, stating, "He stands up for himself, he stands up to what he believes in, he's got principles unlike 99% of the other congress people out there." This sentiment contrasts with Cuskey's view that the impeachment push was driven by spite, illustrating the polarized nature of the district's opinion on the outgoing congressman.