Explosive moment Trump ally berates Pete Hegseth over Iran war as eye-popping price tag is revealed
Senator John Kennedy, the Republican from Louisiana, rebuked Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a Tuesday hearing.
The Senator clashed with Hegseth, demanding the Secretary make the case for continuing to wage war in Iran as the administration asks Congress to approve another $67 billion in emergency funding for the conflict, in addition to an estimated $37 billion already spent.
Kennedy, a staunch Trump ally who advocates a hawkish foreign policy, became visibly frustrated during a line of questioning about the potential consequences of pulling out of the war.
‘Would [the regime] try to commence development again of a nuclear warhead?’ Kennedy asked.
Hegseth replied, ‘Part of the reason that President Trump had to have the courage to do what he did after Midnight Hammer was that they didn’t give up their ambitions even though their nuclear sites had been obliterated.’
As Hegseth continued the lengthy response, Kennedy interrupted with an exclamation: ‘Gosh, we need straight answers,’ he said, repeating it for emphasis.
Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine were testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on a White House budget request as war continues in the Middle East.
Kennedy looks on during Tuesday’s hearing
U.S. Capitol Police remove a protester from the Tuesday hearing
Hegseth was testifying on a budget request from the White House as conflict with Iran persists
The testimony comes as three US soldiers were killed over the weekend, bringing America’s Iran war death toll to 17.
Hegseth faced pressure from Democratic senators who questioned whether additional funding should be granted to the Department of War, as they accused Hegseth of failing to properly spend previous money.
In his opening testimony, Hegseth had scowled as protesters repeatedly interrupted him.
‘Your hands are bloody,’ one woman said as US Capitol police dragged her from the room.
Hegseth resumed talking, only to be interrupted again a few seconds later.
‘Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine – this is illegal,’ a second woman stood and shouted.
Both held signs saying in all caps, ‘NO WAR ON IRAN.’
Hegseth was then interrupted a third time, prompting an angry reaction from Senator Susan Collins, who chaired Tuesday’s hearing.
‘We will have order in the hearing room,’ Collins declared tersely.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins also testified in the hearing.
