Rep. Vindman delivers a sharp one-liner aimed at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, telling him, “Sounds like you’re blaming Daddy!” The pointed remark adds a tense moment to their exchange, drawing attention to the political clash and the criticism surrounding Hegseth’s remarks.
#Vindman #PeteHegseth #USPolitics #PoliticalNews #hearing #iran #iranwar #TrumpAdministration #Congress #Hegseth #PoliticalClash
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#Vindman #PeteHegseth #USPolitics #PoliticalNews #hearing #iran #iranwar #TrumpAdministration #Congress #Hegseth #PoliticalClash
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00:00The chair now recognizes Mr. Vindman from Virginia for five minutes.
00:04Thank you. Earlier, Secretary Hegseth, you talked about flexible realism, so let's see if we can figure out how much
00:10of it is realistic and how much of it is just flexible.
00:13Secretary Hegseth, last year I asked you some questions about Indo-PACOM and threats in Europe, and you had a
00:19hard time answering those questions.
00:21I'm sure you prepped better this year, and I'm hoping you can answer some of these basic questions since now
00:26we are at war.
00:28Do you know what the price of oil is today?
00:32I don't know where it's gone as of this time of this hearing, but roughly $100 a barrel.
00:37It's actually closer to $120, $117.
00:39Well, it depends on the index you're looking at.
00:41I'm looking at Brent.
00:43Do you know what the price was the day before of Brent, the day before we went to war?
00:51It was certainly lower. You understand you're taking some economic risk, but I would note the energy dominance this president
00:57has.
00:57The leash has put us in an incredible position.
00:59Let me get to my question. Thank you.
01:00So it's $72, and so now we have a 62% increase.
01:05By the way, the department obviously will be paying those extra fuel costs.
01:09That's going to be not insignificant, but so will the American people.
01:13Now, at its narrowest point, how wide is the Strait of Hormuz?
01:19I think it's about 12 miles, but I'd have to check.
01:21It's 24 miles, but 12 miles is actually the relevant number because that's the navigable channel.
01:26That's the international water navigable channel point.
01:28And do you know how many barrels of oil transited the Strait of Hormuz each day before the war started?
01:35I don't know the exact number, but you're looking at over 100 oil tankers usually transited a day,
01:40or 120 a day would transport the Strait.
01:43Yeah, and so 20 million barrels a day, and right now they're at an 81% reduction.
01:49So it sounds like you've done your homework.
01:52You're tracking pretty well what the strategic situation is.
01:58So a couple of questions.
02:01Were you aware that if we struck Iran that they would most likely close the Strait of Hormuz?
02:09Of course, our department was prepared and planning for every possible contingent being front and center
02:15as something they may do in a desperate state to attempt to facilitate some kind of control.
02:18Which is what they've done, and I appreciate that.
02:21And earlier you told Mr. Moulton that this department has looked at all aspects of the risk
02:27and that the president got every possible perspective.
02:30And then recently you just said that the president did understand the risks
02:34and had the courage to undertake the endeavor nonetheless, and that's leadership.
02:40Or words to that effect, pretty close.
02:41And so I just want to kind of give you the state of play right now.
02:45It's been two months of war.
02:47We have hopes for a resolution, but the war continues really.
02:51Iran has closed the Strait, and we've now gone in and blockaded their ports.
02:55There's one-fifth of the world's oil is unable to transit the Strait,
03:01and the American people and the department are paying significantly more.
03:07And you also said that this is what the American people actually voted for.
03:12But actually, the American people voted for a promise not to get into Middle Eastern wars,
03:19and they voted for lower prices, and this is the exact opposite of what they got.
03:25So let me ask you this.
03:28The president ordered the strike. Is that correct?
03:32The president's been saying for over 30 years that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
03:36So he's been very clear as a position.
03:38When American people voted for President Trump overwhelmingly, they voted for that position.
03:42But the president ordered the strike. Is that correct?
03:45Which strike are you referring to?
03:47The strike on Iran, the war that we're in.
03:49Oh, of course. I mean, he's the commander-in-chief. He's made the calls.
03:52It sounds like you're blaming Daddy for the mess we're in, and I don't think he's going to be particularly
03:57happy with you.
03:58I see what you're trying to do.
03:59There's no daylight in this administration on this campaign, and I'm happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with this administration.
04:06Thank you for claiming my time.
04:08So let's shift gears.
04:09Last time we were here, I asked you if you'd apologize to the mother of an F-18 pilot whose
04:13son you endangered for sharing classified information on the signal chat.
04:17You refused.
04:18On March 1st, six Army soldiers, including a constituent of mine, were killed by an Iranian drone strike.
04:23Do you take any responsibility for those deaths?
04:29I was there at Dover when they came back.
04:31Of course, I take responsibility for every aspect of this mission.
04:33Well, I appreciate that, because you also complained about the fact that tragic things happen.
04:39The news makes it front-page news.
04:41The press only wants to make the president look bad.
04:44Is it about the soldiers, or is it about the president looking bad?
04:48It's not just the president who wants—the media that wants to make him look bad.
04:51It's you.
04:53It's actually about the soldiers, and it's frankly reprehensible.
04:55That you would make that statement.
04:57And so, you know, Truman had a sign on his desk that said the buck stops here.
05:03And this administration—
05:03The adjournment's time has expired.
05:05The chair now recognizes Mr. Van Norden from Wisconsin for five minutes.
05:09Thank you, Madam Chair.
05:10Mr. Secretary, it's great to see you.
05:12General King.
05:14Honorable Mr. Hurst.
05:15Of course, my dear friend of over three decades, Master Chief Isom.
05:20How are you doing?
05:24Hey, I have to be very clear here.
05:28I spent my entire adult life training for war, training others for war, or at war.
05:34And you very astutely mentioned to some of my Democrat colleagues that our generation has been involved, was involved, in
05:41an endless war, a morass.
05:44And I've had—with Matthew Burns, I've had 22 of my friends commit suicide.
05:51And I know that you have recently instituted a specific office to help lower active duty in veterans' suicide in
06:00conjunction with my great friend, Secretary Collins.
06:04So I want to thank you for that.
06:08Two months does not a morass make.
06:11However, it could be the start of one.
06:13And the difference between this administration and many previous administrations, I think that you understand, particularly because of your background
06:20and your SCA back there, and General Kane,
06:23you understand what it means to fight to win, and we didn't fight to win in Afghanistan.
06:32We didn't fight to win in Iraq.
06:34And it's palpable.
06:36I have more friends than I can count that are still on active duty in every branch of service, including
06:42the Coast Guard.
06:42And for a Navy guy, that's a big stretch.
06:45The morale of the men and women in the Department of War, and in their case the Department of Transportation,
06:51is exponentially higher than I've ever seen it.
06:54Ever.
06:55And that comes from leadership, starting with President Trump, going through you, to General Kane, and through your SCA.
07:02And what some of my colleagues refuse to admit is that that's how you win.
07:09It starts with the man.
07:10It's the first soft truth.
07:11Humans are more important than hardware.
07:14And I want to thank you for setting that environment.
07:16I don't want to be at war.
07:18But Iran declared war on the United States of America 47 years ago.
07:23And those bastards are responsible for killing and maiming many of my friends.
07:28So this is not some esoteric political argument for me.
07:32This is a fact that President Trump, by using you as the Secretary of War, and General Kane, as CJCS,
07:39and Mastery Feist,
07:40what you're doing is you're going to end a war that was declared on us.
07:45And of all times, when we should unite as Americans, especially in this puzzle palace up here, is when we're
07:52at war.
07:54And it is a war of choice, by the mullahs.
07:58That is who chose to fight this war, and we're going to end it.
08:03I don't really have a question for you.
08:06I trust your judgment.
08:08General Kane, I trust your judgment.
08:09Master Chief, I trust your judgment.
08:11And when you're coming here with a request for a tremendous amount of money, I understand that there's no fluff
08:19in there.
08:20That this is what's required to end this war that the mullahs chose to declare against us.
08:28And I'm telling you right now, we have your back.
08:31And there are a lot of my Democrat colleagues that do also.
08:34They're just afraid to say it out loud because they'll be crushed by the left of their party.
08:39And that is reprehensible.
08:43So with that, whatever you guys need, you just holler.
08:47Okay, Mr. Secretary?
08:49I couldn't say it any better.
08:50Thank you very much, Congressman.
08:51You're welcome, sir.
08:52With that, I yield back.
08:53The gentleman yields back.
08:54Chair, and I recognize the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Bell.
08:57Thank you, Mr. Chair.
08:59Mr. Secretary, I don't trust your judgment.
09:02You made the comment to my colleague that there's no daylight between you and the president,
09:05which calls into question your role and, again, accountability.
09:10And so I got to ask, has there ever been any time that you disagree with the president on this
09:14war or anything in general?
09:17I would never betray conversations that we've had.
09:19You can't even acknowledge that you've ever even disagreed with the man, like his choice of tie, that dance, anything.
09:27You haven't disagreed on anything.
09:29I've never relayed to the discussions I have with the commander-in-chief.
09:32Okay.
09:33Because it seems to me that rather than being Trump's secretary of defense, that sounds like you're just being Trump's
09:39secretary.
09:39And we need someone who's going to be there that is actually advising, that is also pushing back when necessary,
09:48and serving the country as opposed to the president.
09:52So you said you've never called him out privately or publicly, because we know that hasn't done.
09:59But have you ever said the words?
10:01You don't have to tell me what it was about.
10:03Have you ever said the words, Mr. President, I disagree with you?
10:07As I said, I don't relay the private conversations that a commander-in-chief deserves.
10:11Like if you've just said, Mr. President, you're wrong about this or you're wrong about that.
10:17You can't even acknowledge, you can't even admit that, if that's happening.
10:21You can ask it again if you want, but I don't relay the private conversations that a commander-in-chief
10:25deserves.
10:25Objectives of this war have constantly shifted and changed.
10:29You see that, though, right?
10:31Like you can acknowledge that.
10:32Because one minute it was to dismantle the Iranian nuclear program.
10:37But how, you know, but, you know, I don't know how that objective has not now been the listed objectives
10:46as far as I understand.
10:48Then there was regime change.
10:51Trump even said when announcing the start of the war, the hour of your freedom is at hand.
10:55It's yours to take.
10:57He also posted on True Social in January.
11:00Help is on the way to the Iranians posting in the street.
11:04Do you still believe in this particular objective?
11:08The objectives have been clear from the beginning, and I've supported the president throughout in having the courage to take
11:13on this threat.
11:14Okay.
11:14So then let's talk about what else has he said.
11:19So let's talk about the Trump doctrine.
11:22So on November 6th, the president said he was all about ending wars, not starting new ones.
11:27Yet in the so-called doctrine, the conflict has not answered why we're in the war.
11:31The objectives have changed.
11:32We're not sure about the exit strategy.
11:35This, to me, is the definition of open-ended or forever war, and you cannot claim the end forever wars
11:42while engaging in one.
11:45And then here's the one that really gets me.
11:47So I don't know when it's over when I feel it in my bones.
11:52So, Mr. Secretary, war decisions should be based on defined military objectives.
11:57You agree with that statement, correct?
12:02It's the commander-in-chief makes the call.
12:04I know, but the American people, when our objectives are completed.
12:07There should be clearly defined military objectives.
12:10Is that safe to say?
12:12Ultimately, the commander-in-chief makes the decision about-
12:15So it's not safe to say.
12:15Okay.
12:16Because I'm just trying to figure out, like, what kind of analysis, evaluation are we looking at with objectives when
12:25it's just what the president feels in his bones?
12:29Like, are we talking about, like, some Da Vinci Petruvian man or whatever?
12:33Like, what are we talking about when we just talk about filling it in your bones?
12:37Because my thing is, we're not set up here to trust anyone's judgment.
12:41We're here to represent our district and districts and the American people.
12:45And so my next question is, the problem that I'm concerned with is that Iran continues to increase their negotiating
12:55leverage with us.
12:56And so we've been told that we've won this war.
13:01It'll be over in a few days.
13:04But now they didn't control the Strait of Hormuz, and now they do have leverage in the Strait of Hormuz.
13:12I remember even in the strikes in June, after the strikes in June, I should say, they struck Al-Adaid,
13:19and we never responded to that.
13:22As a matter of fact, Trump even said he knew that strike was coming and he allowed it.
13:28Do you agree with that?
13:31Ultimately, the president's been clear about his objectives.
13:33And if Iran thinks they're going to out-deal the best dealmaker on the planet, they've got another thing coming.
13:38But they struck us, and we didn't strike back, and you're okay with that?
13:41He even, like, said he authorized, like, he allowed it.
13:44He said that, and you're okay with that?
13:47The president has done many bold things for this country to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon.
13:52Okay, well, allowing another country to attack us, isn't that treason?
13:56Allowing Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
13:58The gentleman's time has expired.
13:59The gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Amadei.
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