Highlights:
- Senator Jack Reed accused Hegseth of exaggerating US success in Iran.
- Lawmakers said the war lacks strategy and public support.
- Iran’s government and nuclear program remain intact.
- Protests briefly disrupted the Senate hearing.
- Hegseth blamed critics and media for weak public support.
During a senate Armed Services Committee hearing, defense secretary Pete Hegseth faced strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers about how he has described the US war with Iran. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the committee, said Hegseth gave an inaccurate and overly positive picture of the conflict.
Reed said that instead of a victory, the war has placed a burden on American families. He pointed out rising fuel costs and said the public never supported the war in the first place. He directly challenged Hegseth’s earlier claim that the US had already achieved victory.
“American families are bearing the cost of a war they wanted nothing to do with and have gained nothing from, and yet, Secretary Hegseth, you declared victory a month ago,” Reed said.
The hearing was part of two days of testimony by Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They were answering questions about the Pentagon’s proposed $1.45 trillion budget. However, the discussion quickly shifted to the war with Iran, which has now lasted eight weeks and reached a stalemate.
The conflict has also led to major global concerns. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipments. This has increased economic pressure worldwide.
At the start of the hearing, protesters interrupted Hegseth’s opening statement. They shouted “war criminal” and “despicable” before being removed from the room.
Reed strongly criticized both president Trump and Hegseth. He said the president entered the war without a clear plan and failed to consult Congress or explain the decision to the American people.
He saved his strongest criticism for Hegseth. Reed accused him of misleading the president and focusing on personal priorities instead of the war effort.
“The problem with your statements, Mr Secretary, is they are dangerously exaggerated,” Reed said. “Iran’s hard line regime remains in place. It still retains stockpiles of enriched uranium, and its nuclear program remains viable.”
Reed warned that giving overly confident reports could harm both the president and US troops.
“I am concerned that you have been telling the President what he wants to hear instead of what he needs to hear. Bold assurances of success are a disservice to both the commander in chief and the troops who risked their lives based on them. Our military has performed heroically, but military force without a sound strategy is a path to long-term defeat.”
Reed also criticized Hegseth’s language about the war. He said some of Hegseth’s past comments could be seen as encouraging actions that violate international law.
“Too often you have made dangerous statements that are counterproductive to the mission you boasted about,” he said. “Quote, ‘no stupid rules of engagement’, just days after hundreds of Iranian school girls were tragically killed in a missile strike, you have made troubling statements about showing no mercy and no quarter to the Iranians orders that would constitute war crimes.”
In addition, Reed accused Hegseth of focusing on unrelated issues. He mentioned changes to the Pentagon’s chaplain services, ending flu vaccine requirements, and restricting education options for service members.
He also criticized Hegseth for inviting musician Kid Rock to an army base for what he called a “joy ride” on a military helicopter. Reed said such actions send the wrong message during wartime.
Reed further claimed that Hegseth has fired or blocked senior military leaders, often citing race or gender as factors. He warned this could weaken leadership and discourage young officers from staying in the military.
Hegseth responded by attacking his critics. He repeated comments he made the previous day, calling them harmful to the war effort.
“As I said yesterday, and I’ll say it again today, the biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans,” he said.
He dismissed criticism as coming from people who do not understand the situation.
He also defended the war as a major and historic effort.
“defeatists from the cheap seats who two months in, seek to undermine the incredible efforts that have been undertaken and the historic nature of taking on a 47-year threat with the courage no other President has had, to great success and great opportunity for preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon”.
Other Democratic senators also challenged Hegseth. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand questioned his claim that Americans support the war.
“I don’t know if you fully appreciate how much the American people do not support this war. It’s an unauthorized war … Why do you continue to prosecute a war that the American war aren’t behind.”
Hegseth replied, “I believe we do have the support of the American people.”
Polls show that most Americans oppose the war. Many are worried about its cost and the risk of a larger conflict.
Senator Richard Blumenthal also criticized Hegseth’s claims of success.
“I know you have characterized this war as an astonishing military success, but the American people aren’t buying it. One point is irrefutable, which is, America never succeeds in war unless the American people are behind and if what you’re seeing as success now is winning, I would hate to see what losing looks like.”
Later, Hegseth admitted that public support may not be as strong as he had said. He blamed Democrats and the media for shaping negative views.
“The negative nature in which you characterize the incredible and historic effort in Iran is part of the reason, senator, why the American people view it the way they do,” he said.
