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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth traded verbal blows on Tuesday with Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who deemed the secretary a “failure.”
Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth is asking to advance a supplemental funding package for the ongoing Iran war, as 69% of Americans disapprove of the way President Donald Trump is handling the conflict.
The U.S. bombed Iran for the 10th consecutive night on Monday after Iran strikes on Jordan killed two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers over the weekend. Another U.S. soldier was killed in Iraq while disposing of an Iranian drone. At least 17 U.S. soldiers have been killed since Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the war in February.
“Secretary Hegseth, despite your failure to win this war, you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding,” Peters said during Tuesday’s hearing. “You’re asking the American people for a blank check because once again, the Trump administration’s efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point. So my question for you, Sir, is how is your strategy different than what we’ve seen in the past?”
“I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure, as reckless,” Hegseth replied. “And I think it’s irresponsible, and I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure. And then you want to turn around and say you support the war fighter. Either you do, or you don’t.”
Peters subsequently objected to Hegseth’s characterization of his remarks. Here is the remainder of their exchange before the senator’s time expired:
PETERS: Secretary Hegseth, did you if you listen to my comments, you would have heard me say how amazing our war fighters are.
HEGSETH: I heard ‘failure,’ and the word– I heard exactly what you said.
PETERS: I will tell you how I used the word ‘failure’ because I used the word ‘failure’ to their leaders. You, Sir, are the failure, not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction. But if there’s a lack of a winning strategy, they’re in harm’s way. Their leaders have failed them. And that’s what’s happening. We have political leadership. You, you don’t have a strategy. You don’t have a long term plan to actually win this war. Win the war! The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they need to have leadership! When will you show leadership?! When will you show leadership?!
HEGSETH: Why don’t you show some leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won’t fund the troops, who stand and play partisan politics while you don’t give us the money?! You want to stand up here and talk about the troops, you won’t show any political courage to actually fund our department because you have Trump derangement syndrome and can’t actually commit to anything meaningful. So I put this on you, Senator.
PETERS: Secretary Hegseth, you have trillions. You have over $1 trillion. You’re asking for $1.5 trillion. It’s not a question of money. It’s a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win.
HEGSETH: Political cowardice of Democrats who won’t fund the troops.
Watch above via CNN.
The post Senator Calls Hegseth a ‘Failure’ To His Face, Setting Off Heated Exchange first appeared on Mediaite.
