Hegseth faces two days of grilling from senators on Capitol Hill over his handling of Iran war
發佈日期: 2026-04-30 22:29
TVB News
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face a second day of grilling from Democrats on Capitol Hill, with senators getting their first opportunity on Thursday to confront or praise the Pentagon chief over his handling of the Iran war.
This as Hegseth faced withering questioning on Wednesday from skeptical Democrats over a costly conflict being waged without congressional approval.
A congressional hearing that was supposed to centre on President Donald Trump's 2027 military budget proposal continued for hours Wednesday with Democrats and Republicans oscillating between praise and condemnation for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
California Democrat Rep. Sara Jacobs said, "Do you believe that the president is mentally stable enough to be the commander-in-chief?"
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth replied, "Did you ask the same question of Joe Biden for four years?"
"Mr. Secretary, Joe Biden is not the president. Mr. Trump has been president for a year and a half, and I'm asking you right now."
"You did not, and I won't even engage with the level of disparagement that you're putting on the Commander-in-Chief."
Then is was the Republican's turn.
Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace said, "We have never seen a secretary at the Department of War who has been as innovative as you have. So I can't say enough good things about you right now."
Republican for Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins said, "I don't believe in my lifetime I've witnessed this level of rebirth and hardcore focus that I'm witnessing out of the Pentagon right now. And I just commend you for driving that, and please note you have a great deal of support, not just in this body and on this committee, but across the country."
Hegseth was also asked about the cost of the war with Iran and how it has affected the lives of Americans.
Republican for California, Rep. Maggie Goodlander asked, "Mr. Hegseth, can I ask you, do you know what the average cost of a gallon of gas was in this country on February 28th?"
"Well it depends on where you live. If you live in California, it's $8,"Hegseth said.
"$2.83. Do you know what the average cost of a gallon of gas is today?"
"Much higher in California."
"$4.23. I gotta say, Mr Hegseth, you said you've got a crack economic team that's looking at the impacts of this war on the American taxpayer, and you can't answer this basic question.That should shock the conscience of every American."
