During a heated congressional hearing on military actions taken by the Trump administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny from Democratic senators on Wednesday.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, found himself at odds with Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan, who grilled him about the military’s authority concerning the arrest and detention of protesters.
The exchange escalated when Slotkin pressed him to clarify whether he had authorized the military to potentially detain or use lethal force against demonstrators.
“So what is the order? Then list it out for us. List it out for us. Be a man. Did you authorize them to detain or arrest?” Slotkin demanded.
Hegseth dismissed the question, which led Slotkin to express frustration, stating, “I’m just asking the question. Don’t laugh.”
Hegseth countered her inquiry by asking for evidence that any such order had ever been issued, prompting Slotkin to reference the memoir of former Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
She highlighted Esper’s account that President Donald Trump had asked whether the military could shoot protesters during the unrest following George Floyd’s death.
“He had more guts and balls than you because he said, I’m not going to send in a uniformed military to do something that I know in my gut isn’t right … You’re pooh-poohing this,” Slotkin asserted.
In response, Hegseth maintained that there was “zero indication that an order was given to shoot protesters and that has not happened,” avoiding a direct affirmation regarding the military’s potential use of force against unarmed civilians.
“I’d be careful what you read in books and believing it. Except for the Bible,” he quipped, further agitating the senator.
Earlier in the hearing, Senator Jacky Rosen from Arizona also pressed Hegseth on concerning personnel decisions, particularly regarding the dismissal of key national security officials like Gen. Timothy Haugh.
Rosen alleged that specific firings were influenced by far-right social media figure Laura Loomer, whose credibility has been questioned even by Republicans.
“The idea is that any leaders within our agency responsible for our nation’s security, somebody would be dismissed based on the advice of a social media influencer,” she lamented.
Hegseth defended his decisions, reiterating that the panel should not place blind faith in the media, and insisted that leadership decisions ultimately rest with him and the President.
“I don’t discuss who I talk about anything with, but ultimately, this is my decision and he serves at the pleasure of the president and that’s why he’s no longer there,” Hegseth asserted.
Rosen, however, pressed for a straightforward answer on whether it was appropriate for social media to influence personnel decisions in his department.
As her time expired, Hegseth attempted to deflect, stating, “I believe your time is up.”
Rosen retorted sharply, “Oh, it is not up to you to tell me when my time is up. I am going to say, Mr. Secretary, you’re either feckless or complicit. You’re not in control of your department,” before yielding back her time.
She concluded her remarks by expressing her disdain for Hegseth’s demeanor, stating, “You [are] unserious. … I yield back and I don’t appreciate the smirk, sir. You are the secretary of defense.”
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