Trump STUNNED on Live TV by Star Witness During CROSS-EXAMINATION!!

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just got torn apart at a Senate hearing. He showed up to testify under oath, demanding $1.5 trillion in additional funding for the catastrophic war in Iran. He wanted close to $90 billion immediately. He said they need it right now. And then he had the nerve to say the biggest threat facing the United States is not getting that $1.5 trillion urgently. Let me show you senator after senator ripping him apart. Even Omega, but first, let me show you Hegseth storming out of the Senate hearing the Midas Touch Network was there trying to ask him about his war crimes and his potential future at The Hague, but he walked away from our reporters. Play this clip. [00:00:44] Speaker 2: Secretary, Jacob from TMZ, one question, and that is it. How are you going to end this war? Secretary, what's your message to the 18 dead military families? [00:00:55] Speaker 3: Are Iran's capabilities too sophisticated to protect U.S. forces? [00:00:58] Speaker 1: Now let's go inside the hearing. Democratic Senator Ossoff walked Hegseth through his own statements one by one. On day eight, you said this. On day 14, you said this. On day 20, you said this. So which is it, Hegseth? On day 14, you stated the following. Play this clip. [00:01:18] Speaker 4: 14 of this conflict, Mr. Secretary. On day 14, nearly five months ago, you stated that Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. That was on day 14 of the war. Was that an accurate statement? [00:01:32] Pete Hegseth: They didn't have a Navy any longer. It was completely sunk. Their missiles were buried underneath a lot of their underground facilities, and their defense industrial base has been almost completely destroyed. So as far as a military assessment of Iran's capabilities, it didn't mean by any stretch of the imagination absolute zero. [00:01:51] Speaker 4: Mr. Secretary, you stated that Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. Was that an accurate statement? Yes or no? [00:02:07] Pete Hegseth: Iran's ability to challenge the United States of America at the level of which we're capable of. [00:02:12] Speaker 4: That's not what I asked you, Mr. Secretary. You said on day 14, Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and, quote, made combat ineffective. Yes or no? Was that an accurate statement? [00:02:24] Pete Hegseth: What the American military has done to the Iranian military is a historic military defeat. Will you answer the question, under oath? And they're ineffective in that context. [00:02:32] Speaker 1: Then Senator Reid came in saying, do you realize how embarrassing it is that you keep blaming everything on the Biden administration? Hegseth tried to yell back at the senator, and Reid fired right back. You think Trump deserves praise for starting an unauthorized war where our troops are now getting killed and Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz? You want him praised for that? Play this clip. [00:02:56] Speaker 6: Wherever the Strait of Hormuz could be closed. And obviously, sinking their ships has not affected their ability to effectively close the straits. [00:03:05] Pete Hegseth: Did you- We had U.S. boats that surrendered to Iranian ships under the Biden administration. So their Navy was affected in- [00:03:12] Speaker 6: Listen, we're talking about the war you started, not a situation in which oil was flowing freely. There was no conflict. We weren't losing personnel as a result of Iranian actions. So your fallback to the Biden administration is just a very, very obvious excuse for what I think is probably, as you described so often, gross negligence. You did not fully inform the president that you would be in a situation where the Strait of Hormuz could be effectively closed, oil prices could surge, and effectively the Iranians could maintain their ability to strike back as they are right now. They just killed some of our servants last weekend. [00:04:00] Pete Hegseth: This battlefield and all the dynamics of it, of which the chairman and I are responsible for ensuring the president understands every branch and sequel of what could happen, and we did. The fact that those contingencies all were part of the possibility, and we understood that, is all the more reason why President Trump deserves the kind of praise he should get for undertaking this effort, having the courage to ensure that crazy Islamists can't have a nuclear weapon to hold us at issue. And he's been willing to state committed to that, regardless of the challenges of this battle. [00:04:27] Speaker 6: Excuse me, so he should be praised for shouting a war without authority, creating a situation in which the world economy is suffering tremendously. We have to ask extra money for our farmers, and we have no outcome, at least no realistic outcome in sight yet. [00:04:47] Speaker 1: More cross-examination from Senator Ossoff. Let's go back to the very beginning. March 8th, here is what you said, play this clip, which went toe-to-toe with him, and Iran couldn't. [00:04:57] Speaker 4: You stated on March 8th, day 9 of the war, on 60 Minutes, you assured the American people of Iranians surrender. Does that remain your prediction? [00:05:07] Pete Hegseth: Ultimately, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon to threaten the United States of America. That has been the objective, and it remains so. [00:05:14] Speaker 4: So just to review, you will not answer whether your statement made on the 14th day of the war, that Iran's military had been, quote, destroyed and made combat ineffective, was a truthful statement to the American people, as you sit here and ask for tens of billions more of the conflict. [00:05:30] Speaker 7: The Senator's time has- [00:05:31] Pete Hegseth: Had a historic and effective military campaign against the largest state sponsor of terrorism. Won't answer the question. [00:05:37] Speaker 1: Senator Peters. I love how Senator Ossoff uses Hegseth's own words against him with simple, direct questions. You said we achieved every single objective. Was that an accurate statement when you said it four months ago? A perfectly framed question. Now watch Hegseth squirm. Play this clip. [00:05:54] Speaker 4: It doesn't mean it doesn't have capabilities. Mr. Secretary, you stated we had, quote, achieved every single objective. Was that an accurate statement four months ago? [00:06:04] Pete Hegseth: The main objective of this was to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. Their main sites were obliterated. We're watching over them, and we're holding that issue. If they don't give them up at the table, there's other ways we can take it away. Early in the conflict on day three. [00:06:15] Speaker 1: Then Senator Durbin stepped in and said, help me understand this. You are asking for emergency supplemental funding of close to $90 billion, $87.6 billion to be exact. But you still have $75 billion in unspent, unobligated funding already set aside for exactly these kinds of situations. So what are you doing with that money? Oh, it is Biden's fault. That is your answer. How about you stop running the Defense Department into the ground? Last year, you had $1.1 trillion. You still have $75 billion sitting there, and you are claiming this war only cost $37.5 billion, which is clearly a complete lie, in my opinion. If it only cost $37.5 billion and you have $75 billion left, what exactly are you here for? Play this clip. [00:07:11] Speaker 8: I would like to ask you to help me reconcile some numbers. It is my understanding that this whole supplemental funding request is $87.6 billion, and most of the funding, $67 billion, is for the Department of Defense. Yet we are told the Department of Defense still has $75 billion in unobligated funding from last year's reconciliation package. Is that true? Roughly correct numbers, yes. So you left some change on the dresser before you prepared to come for this hearing. What is going to happen to that $75 billion? [00:07:48] Pete Hegseth: Well, that $75 billion, there are plans and designs on that part of the rebuild of our military, which had to be undertaken. So one big, beautiful bill gave us specific avenues. But I'd have to get you the exact numbers of what that is left to be allocated. [00:07:59] Speaker 8: Does it have to do with the war in Iran? [00:08:02] Pete Hegseth: No, this is rebuilding our military from what was not funded in the past under the Biden administration. So this is from 2026, one big, beautiful bill, which helped move the president's priorities, like Golden Dome for America, move away from all the woke priorities of what the Biden administration was pursuing, give us a chance to start cutting these deals on munitions. All the things that the president wanted us to focus on, shipbuilding, hypersonics. I mean, the Biden administration ignored hypersonics. They just decided to pretend like that technology didn't exist and we shouldn't invest in it. There are things. I don't know what Lloyd Austin did for four years. I really don't. The amount of neglect, the amount of stale thinking and bureaucracy was staggering when we took over. [00:08:42] Speaker 1: Now, let me show you where Hegseth claimed the war only cost around $37.5 billion. Play this clip. [00:08:52] Speaker 8: It's my turn to ask questions. I've been listening patiently while you made your presentation. You estimated at one point that the cost of the war in Iran was $29 billion. But then added a caveat that there was a replacement of munitions, for example. Do you have a new estimate about what the war has cost us so far in this, the fifth month of the first year of this war in Iran? [00:09:16] Pete Hegseth: Senator, the estimate we have as of today is $37.5 billion. [00:09:21] Speaker 8: And it's a current activity which we've been told about, the exchange of fire back and forth in Iran, an indication that that number is going to go up in the months ahead. [00:09:32] Pete Hegseth: Some of that number captures additional O&M, mill pay, and other that would be anticipated through the fiscal year. So some of that anticipates what costs would be going out in the future as well. [00:09:40] Speaker 8: So the new number you've given me is what? $37.5 billion. And that represents the cost of the war through what period of time? [00:09:50] Pete Hegseth: Through now for certain aspects of it, but also mill pay, O&M, other anticipated costs through September 30th. [00:09:58] Speaker 1: And then Pete Hegseth turns around and says they need $1.5 trillion urgently. Play this clip. [00:10:05] Pete Hegseth: That means that that means $1.5 trillion, given the world that we live in and the disaster of what the Biden administration budgets gave us. Not funding this department at $1.5 trillion, I believe, is the greatest threat that our nation faces. Either we invest in our warriors at this moment of step change on the battlefield and growing threats, or this is all just talk. [00:10:29] Speaker 1: Next, Senator Murray cross-examines Hegseth and points out a glaring contradiction. She says you told Iran it would be completely against international law for them to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. But then Donald Trump said he wants to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz himself. Play this clip. [00:10:46] Speaker 9: You also said at that same press conference, and I'm going to quote you, you urged Iran to, quote, let innocent ships pass freely. These international waters belong to all nations, not to Iran to tax toll or control. Last week, President Trump said the U.S. would charge a 20% toll to each ship to pass through the state. So based on your opposition to tolls, did you talk to the president out of that idea, or did someone else? [00:11:15] Pete Hegseth: Iran's not charging tolls, and they're shooting at ships right now. [00:11:19] Speaker 9: But Trump said that he wanted to charge a 20% toll. [00:11:24] Pete Hegseth: We have a blockade right now of all Iranian ships and Iranian ports, and it's effective. [00:11:29] Speaker 9: My time is out. [00:11:31] Speaker 1: There were also protesters throughout the hearing, making their voices heard. Here is that clip. Budget request. 1.5 trillion. [00:11:41] Speaker 7: Stop bombing our children in Iran, Palestine, this is illegal. Mr. Secretary, please suspend until the order is restored in the hearing room. We will begin the timing clock since you've been interrupted twice. [00:11:59] Speaker 1: More from Senator Murray, who says on May 5th, you claimed Iran does not control the Strait, and you said there was a, quote, powerful red, white, and blue dome over the Strait of Hormuz. If that dome was real and protecting everyone, how exactly did Iran manage to reduce ship traffic during that same period, and how are they still reducing ship traffic whenever they feel like it? I mean, this administration lies about absolutely everything. Play this clip. [00:12:31] Speaker 9: On May 5th, you claimed that Iran doesn't control the Strait, and you said that there was a, quote, powerful red, white, and blue dome over the Strait. If that was true, how did Iran shrink ship traffic in the Strait to a trickle again last week? [00:12:47] Pete Hegseth: We pushed almost, I believe, between 400 and 500 million bearers of oil under the nose of Iran over the course of Project Freedom, which went underground, which I acknowledged after we did so covertly, because it was more effective to do so quietly than to do so publicly. So we've been in control of moving traffic through there for quite some time. Will they retain the ability to recklessly shoot at commercial shipping? And that's what happened. We had a ceasefire, and then they shot at commercial shipping. [00:13:11] Speaker 1: Then when Senator Peters was cross-examining Hegseth, his response was simply, sir, you have Trump derangement syndrome. Sir, you have Trump derangement syndrome. Play this clip. [00:13:24] Speaker 10: Hegseth, did you, if you listened to my comments, you told, you would have heard me say how amazing our warfighters are. [00:13:29] Pete Hegseth: I heard failure, and the word, I heard exactly what you said. [00:13:32] Speaker 10: I will tell you how I used the word failure, because I used the word failure to their leaders. You, sir, are the failure, not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction. But if there's a lack of a winning strategy, they're in harm's way. Their leaders have failed them, and that's what's happening. We have political leadership. You, you don't have a strategy. You don't have a long-term plan to actually win this war, win the war. The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they need to have leadership. When will you show leadership? Of course we have leadership. [00:14:05] Pete Hegseth: When will you show leadership? Why don't you show some leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won't fund the troops, who stand and play partisan politics while you don't give us the money? You want to stand up here and talk about the troops? You won't show any political courage to actually fund our department, because you have Trump derangement syndrome and can't actually commit to anything meaningful. So I put this on you, Senator. [00:14:24] Speaker 10: Senator Heggshoff, you have trillions, you have over a trillion dollars. You're asking for one and a half trillion dollars. It's not a question of money. It's a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win. [00:14:36] Pete Hegseth: Political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops. Senators. [00:14:43] Speaker 1: Now here is a moment that deserves more attention. MAGA Republican senator from North Dakota, Senator Hoven, someone who some might call more moderate, but who in my view consistently covers for Trump, asked Heggshoff directly are Russia and China helping Iran? And Heggshoff admits it right here. Play this clip. We'll make a big difference for our farmers right now. [00:15:04] Speaker 11: So thank you for that. Thank you. Secretary Heggshoff, are Russia and China helping Iran? And if so, how? [00:15:18] Pete Hegseth: Well, Senator, as the chairman alluded to, there's definitely adversary alignment, attempts to do so. And there are many ways that we deter that. Some of which are, and the depth and extent of it ought to remain classified and it should. But there are ways in which both of those countries are limiting at different levels, enabling some of the things Iran is doing. Yes. General Cain, would you like to add? [00:15:47] Speaker 12: Sir, I'd rather not opine on the specifics because that would divulge what we know. And I never want the adversary to know what I know. I just want to know it. [00:15:59] Speaker 11: And hopefully we'll get a chance to do that. [00:16:01] Speaker 12: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Happy to do that in the skiff, sir. [00:16:05] Speaker 1: More clips here. Senator Ossoff walks through the timeline again. So after we laid out what you said on March 8th, what you said 14 days in, and then you declared victory. You think this is victory. You declared mission accomplished. Play this clip. In fact, in that context. [00:16:22] Speaker 4: Three weeks later, you declared victory. That was now nearly four months ago. Three weeks after you'd already said Iran's military was destroyed and combat ineffective, you said, quote, Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory. You said Iran's military had been rendered, quote, combat ineffective for years to come. And you stated we had, quote, achieved every single objective. [00:16:49] Pete Hegseth: Were those accurate statements? It certainly was, on behalf of the men and women in uniform, a historic military victory over Iran. [00:16:57] Speaker 4: Had Iran's military been rendered, quote, combat ineffective for years to come. That was a statement that you made four months ago. [00:17:03] Pete Hegseth: They had 160 naval vessels. You need to answer the questions, Mr. Secretary. Their air force is completely combat ineffective and they don't have it. [00:17:11] Speaker 1: Then Senator Gillibrand says, I need to get this straight. Were the nuclear facilities obliterated or not? Play it. [00:17:17] Speaker 3: Secretary Haig, Seth. There's no reason to be rude. You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people. [00:17:31] Pete Hegseth: Not unlimited bombs, Senator. I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries into the future. And that's why this is a generational investment. And it was the previous administration that didn't fund this department. [00:17:42] Speaker 3: The reason why they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words you have used in the past don't add up about Iran specifically. You said that we had obliterated, quote, unquote, Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons. The president made the same claim. Yet eight months later, in February of 2026, the president launched an active war claiming Iran was within two weeks of having a weapon. So when you say two very different things, the American people don't know who to believe or what to believe. They just know they can't afford their health care. They can't afford their food. They can't afford housing. And our farmers are continuing to suffer. So, which is true. Was it obliterated or wasn't it? What's the status? [00:18:27] Pete Hegseth: The nuclear sites under Midnight Hammer were obliterated. But Iranians foolishly continued to attempt to pursue nuclear capabilities, which is why we destroyed their defense industrial base and so many of the other capabilities to ensure they can't get to a nuclear weapon. See, we're staying laser focused on the objective and you're trying to make campaign commercials. No, we're not. And that's fine. [00:18:46] Speaker 3: So listen to this. Popular and unauthorized war abroad is a higher priority to this administration than their ability to feed their families and provide health care to their loved ones who are sick. [00:19:00] Pete Hegseth: Well, Senator, you're talking about political trade-offs and our job is to deliver for the United States military and the president of the United States. And we look at the cost of a nuclear Iran and we want to prevent that for future generations. And that requires funding and supplementals and this budget and next generation capabilities. And that's why we're here today to request some of that to ensure we can ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. [00:19:20] Speaker 3: So you're essentially saying you're asking for literally $1.5 trillion for a war that President Trump said he already won. You're asking for $1.5 trillion, unlimited money for bombs, but insufficient money for the American people for their health care, their food, their housing. And our farmers, Secretary Rollins, who we have cut SNAP program, we are not funding the losses from emergencies that have happened in blue states, particularly when we had frost. That's not true. False. You're not funding it. But back to you, Secretary Hegseth. [00:20:00] Speaker 7: And I would like to respond to the fertilizer and the gas. [00:20:03] Speaker 3: You continue to have your chance, Secretary Hegseth. There's no reason to be rude. You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people. [00:20:17] Speaker 1: Then Senator Tammy Baldwin says, I spoke with soldiers who were in the barracks and were injured in these attacks. You are offering them no aid or support. You are not even allowing them to get the medical treatment they need. You are downplaying their injuries. You are covering all of this up. Watch what she says. [00:20:34] Speaker 13: Secretary Hegseth, I traveled to Walter Reed Military Hospital and met with soldiers who were injured in that attack. What they told me confirmed what other soldiers have said publicly, that most of these soldiers injured in the attack did not receive proper medical care in Kuwait, in Germany, or during their initial days back in the U.S. The U.S. military has been fighting wars in the Middle East for 25 years. Why was proper medical care not immediately available to these injured soldiers? And why were they not immediately screened for traumatic brain injuries? [00:21:18] Pete Hegseth: I'm not taking issue with the characterization of individual soldiers, but I would argue that every effort was made to provide every level of medical care possible, understanding how CENTCOM operates. [00:21:28] Speaker 1: The center's time has... [00:21:30] Speaker 6: More from Senator Reed right here, play it. Realistic outcome in sight yet. Let me switch to General Cain. General Cain, these airstrikes have not yet deterred and defeated the Iranians. Do you think airstrikes alone will do that? [00:21:47] Speaker 12: Sir, I think academically, as you look across the totality of history, air power's got limits, and we always have to be mindful of those. I think where America's area of exclusivity is, is when we bring the totality of the diplomatic, informational, economic, and pair that with the military, and there's a lot of that work going on, sir. [00:22:07] Speaker 6: Well, the military, the next step would be escalation by ground combat. Do you anticipate that escalation? [00:22:15] Speaker 12: Sir, I think it'd be unhelpful for me to opine on hypotheticals. What I can tell you is we always develop an unbelievable amount of options and the associated risks, and then my main job is to always ensure that leaders understand those options and the risks. [00:22:30] Speaker 6: Now, if you employ ground troops to seize objectives, which I would assume would be the first stage, are you prepared for an extended guerrilla war, which would likely happen in that area? [00:22:42] Speaker 12: Sir, with all due respect, I think it'd be unhelpful for me to opine on hypothetical situations, on whatever decisions the president may or may not take in the future. [00:22:52] Speaker 6: Have you advised the president that a ground combat would be very expensive in the lives of armed soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and also could probably lead to an extended unconventional war in that area? I don't see the Iranians sort of throwing the hands of saying, you know, welcome to Iran. [00:23:17] Speaker 12: Senator, I always advise the president on a range of military options and all of the risks that are contained within that, but I have to keep my military advice to the president private, sir. But, well, thank you. [00:23:31] Speaker 1: There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe.