The already contentious and fiery Senate hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine went off the rails as Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Hegseth devolved into shouting at each other.
Read more Pete Hegseth shut down as Dem senator loses patience: ‘I don’t want your speech’
“Despite your failure to win this war, you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding,” said Peters. “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?”
Hegseth appeared rankled at the premise of the question.
“I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless,” he shot back. “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.”
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“Secretary Hegseth, if you listened to my comments, you would have heard me say how amazing our warfighters are,” said Peters, as Hegseth tried to shout over him that he had called them “failures.”
“I will tell you how I used the word failure. Because I used the word failure to their leaders. You, sir, are the failure!” Peters yelled. “Not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction.”
Read more ‘We need straight answers!’ GOP senator delivers scathing rebuttal to Hegseth
Hegseth shot back, “You have Trump Derangement Syndrome!”
