Balgarianovinite.com
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.
Senator Calls Hegseth a ‘Failure’ To His Face, Setting Off Heated Exchange 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-21 23:15:17 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law