Hegseth explodes after Democrat accuses him of misleading country into ‘disaster’ Iran warYour support helps us to tell the story
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth erupted at a Democratic lawmaker who asked whether President Donald Trump was “mentally stable enough” to be commander in chief after he threatened to wipe out Iran’s “entire civilization.”
Hegseth is being questioned under oath by the House Armed Services Committee alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, as negotiations to end Trump’s war remain at an impasse.
“Mr. Secretary, you are with the president a lot, and it pains me to even have to ask this about our president, but my constituents’ lives are at stake. Do you believe that the President is mentally stable enough to be the commander in chief?” California Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs said to Hegseth.
“I won’t even engage with the level of disparagement that you’re putting on the commander in chief,” Hegseth said, before unleashing on Jacobs about former President Joe Biden.
Earlier, Hegseth refused to say whether he advised Trump to launch the attack on Iran.
“We never talk about what we would advise the president to do or not,” Hegseth replied to Massachusetts Democrat Seth Moulton.
The war, which Hegseth pledged in early March would likely last between “four to five weeks,” has now entered its eighth week.
It has so far cost an estimated $25 billion, a Pentagon financial official told the hearing.
Briefing: What we know on 61st day of Iran warPresident Donald Trump has reportedly told his aides to prepare for a prolonged blockade of Iran, choosing sustained economic pressure over further strikes or withdrawal. Oil prices rose on news there was no end in sight to blockade U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before Congress on war Trump claimed Iran has informed the U.S. it was “in a State of Collapse”, though this has not been confirmed by Tehran. A public spat between Donald Trump and German chancellor Friedrich Merz erupted after the latter said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by Iran The United Arab Emirates has quit Opec after nearly 60 years, weakening the group and signaling a major shift in global oil politics and regional alliances. Former US officials have criticized the lack of transparency over the deadly Minab school strike in Iran, calling the Pentagon’s silence “highly unusual” Read more
Maroosha Muzaffar29 April 2026 05:45
Second Republican shares concern over Hegseth’s firing of top Army official
A second Republican questioned Pete Hegseth’s firing of Gen. Randy George, one of the top U.S. military officials.
Reps. Austin Scott of Georgia and Don Bacon of Nebraska both expressed their concern over George’s ousting.
“I do want you to know I disagree with the firing of General George,” Scott said. “I’ve sent you a letter. I hope you’ll look forward to seeing the responses on that.”
Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 20:05
Trump said Putin offered his ‘help’ with Iran
Pivoting away from Hegseth’s testimony for a moment, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his offer to support in dealing with Iran’s 970 pounds of enriched uranium that Trump is demanding Tehran surrender.
“He told me he’d like to be involved with the enrichment — if he can help us get it,” Trump said Putin told him.
“I said, ‘I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.’ To me, that would be more important.”
Rhian Lubin, AP29 April 2026 19:55
Analysis: Pete Hegseth lost his cool in front of Congress. It was a dramatic unraveling
Pete Hegseth sounds increasingly deluded and desperate, writes Holly Baxter.
But today, poor old Pete had to testify in Congress before the experts on the House Armed Services Committee. It’s a place where questions aren’t just allowed, but also follow-up questions.
And this is where he completely unraveled…
Holly Baxter29 April 2026 19:45
Watch: Moment Hegseth is told to calm down by GOP committee chair
Hegseth was told to calm down by the GOP committee chairman during an exchange about the troops who were killed.
Watch the moment below via Aaron Rupar.
Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 19:36
Hegseth says ‘nobody cares more about the fate of our troops’
Under questioning about the troops killed in Kuwait by Democrat Chris DeLuzio, Hegseth becomes irate and unhinged when asked if his spokesperson, Sean Parnell, was calling the survivors who spoke to CBS News “liars.”
The survivors told the network that they were “unprepared for the attack,” which Parnell said was “not true,” DeLuzio said.
“I’m not calling our troops liars, and I don’t know if what you’re representing is correct or not,” Hegseth replied. “I’ll take you at your word on that, but all I know is that we took every effort possible at the commencement of this campaign to ensure the defense of our troops.”
“You are disparaging me, that I don’t care about the passing of our troops,” he said. “Nobody cares more [for the] fate of our troops. Nobody cares more about the health of our troops.”
Andrew Feinberg, Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 18:58
Democrat calls on Hegseth to resign
Rep. Pat Ryan, (D-NY) is questioning Hegseth about the protection given to troops at a base that was the site of a fatal attack by Iran early in the 60-day-old war.
One of the survivors has said there was no protection to speak of. Hegseth has called that a “falsehood” and is now yelling at Ryan while refusing to directly answer his questions, except to call the deaths of service members “the consequence of conflict.”
At the end of his allotted time for questions, Ryan called for Hegseth to resign.
“Those soldiers are braver than you are. They deserve accountability, and I’m asking for the same, starting with you. And as I said a year ago, you need to resign immediately,” he concluded.
Andrew Feinberg29 April 2026 18:50
‘Did you ask the same question of Joe Biden?’
Hegseth replied to Rep. Sara Jacobs’ questions about Trump’s mental stability by pivoting to former President Joe Biden.
“Did you ask the same question of Joe Biden for four years?” Hegseth replied. “You did not, and I won’t even engage with the level of disparagement you’re putting on the commander and chief.”
“You want to ask that question after you and your fellow Democrats defended Joe Biden who could barely speak?” he fumed.
Watch the exchange below:
Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 18:40
Democrat asks Hegseth whether Trump is ‘mentally stable enough to be commander in chief’
Democratic Rep. Sara Jacobs asks Hegseth whether President Donald Trump is “mentally stable enough to be the commander in chief,” citing the Truth Social posts he shared over Easter.
“I’ve heard from so many military families concerned about the President’s mental fitness and whether he’s fit to serve as our Commander in Chief, given that he’s sending their loved ones into harm’s way,” Jacobs said.
“So, Mr. Secretary, you are with the President a lot, and it pains me to even have to ask this about our president, but my constituents’ lives are at stake. Do you believe that the President is mentally stable enough to be the Commander-in-Chief?”
Hegseth asked why the congresswoman did not ask the same of former President Joe Biden.
“I won’t even engage with the level of disparagement that you’re putting on the commander in chief,” he said.
Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 18:26
Recap: Democrats on the attack during Hegseth’s testimony
Democrats have gone on the attack during Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony so far.
Here’s a recap on what’s happened:
– The war in Iran has cost an estimated $25 billion, mostly on munitions
– Hegseth has refused to say whether he advised President Donald Trump to initiate the attack on Iran back in February
– The Pentagon chief has been called “incompetent” and accused of “lying” to the American people by Democrats
– He has been quizzed by lawmakers about why he fired some of the most senior and experienced officials in the U.S. military, but he refused to say exactly why
Rhian Lubin29 April 2026 18:16