US House Republicans voted on Tuesday to effectively block an impeachment bid against US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, handing a victory to President Donald Trump as his administration reels from last week's midterm defeat.

Trump praised the outcome online, describing Hegseth as a "Great American Patriot" and saying the effort to impeach the hawkish Pentagon chief "has miserably FAILED!"

Pentagon chief says claims against him 'slander' and 'farce'
Hegseth has been facing increasing political pressure over the Iran war. Yesterday, Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie introduced a resolution to impeach Hegseth in an apparent bid to force a vote before the new US Congress convenes in January.

Massie is one of the few prominent Republicans who is also an outspoken Trump critic. The Kentucky congressman accuses the US defense secretary of waging the war illegally and without congressional approval. While the resolution focuses on Iran, it also questions Hegseth's actions regarding the strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen and military operations in Venezuela.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hegseth dismissed the accusations as "slander" and "sabotage."

"It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it," he said at a Pentagon press conference.

Massie: Republicans won't leave a sinking ship
The US House of Representatives has now voted 211 to 204 to refer the initiative to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Massie had warned that the referral would effectively kill his impeachment initiative.

Following the vote, Massie compared his Republican colleagues in the outgoing Congress to passengers staying on the Titanic.

"They know it's a sinking ship but committed to stay on board," he said.

While Hegseth appears safe from Massie's impeachment initiative, he is expected to face renewed pushback and possibly a new impeachment effort once the Democratic Party takes control of both the House and Senate next year.