'Americans Can't Buy Food & You Want Money For Iran War?': Gillibrand Drops Truth Bomb On Hegseth

[00:00:00]Secretary Hagseth, >> There's no reason to be >> 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.

[00:00:13]>> 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 who didn't fund this department.

[00:00:25]>> Secretary Hagseth, >> There's no reason to be >> 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.

[00:00:38]>> Um 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.

[00:00:47]And it was the previous administration who didn't fund this department. They didn't fund it.

[00:00:51]>> they are so upset with you and this administration is because the words you have used in the past don't add up.

[00:00:59]About Iran specifically, you said that we had obliterated, quote unquote, Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons. The president made the same claim. Claim. Yet, 8 months later, in February of 2026, the president launched an active war claiming Iran was within 2 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 what's the status?

[00:01:35]>> 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 also 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, and that's fine.

[00:01:54]>> to this. You also say that you made the um missile program quote destroyed and made combat ineffective quote Iran's entire ballistic missile production capacity. Every company that builds every component of those missiles has been functionally defeated and destroyed and that the missile program existing stockpiles were depleted and decimated almost completely ineffective. So why are there missiles left to hit Jordan and and result in the loss of life of our brave men and women?

[00:02:23]>> As we stated from the beginning the Iranian defense industrial base is effectively gone but they do have underground facilities facilities because they're the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and they've spent 47 years trying to hide their missiles under mountains just like their just like their nuclear capabilities because they would like to get a nuclear weapon >> version of the war to believe because it's either over or it's not over. It's within two weeks or it's not two weeks.

[00:02:48]We have no missiles or we have missiles and that consternation is why so many New Yorkers are perplexed, stressed out and find this war to be incredibly unpopular because they don't understand the choices that the president's making.

[00:03:01]>> I will tell you how I use the word failure because I use the word failure to their leaders. You sir are the failure. Not the men and women who are on that front line. Not the the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction.

[00:03:15]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?

[00:03:33]>> I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless and I think it's irresponsible and I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

[00:03:45]Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure and then you want to turn around and say you support the warfighter. Either you do or you don't.

[00:03:52]I can get you a ticket out to I can get you a ticket out to CENTCOM and talk to what those Americans are doing and how committed they are to this effort and how they want to ensure that Iran never threatens their families with a nuclear weapon. It's a It is that That's the kind of intensity that our warfighters have about making sure that Iran isn't capable of doing >> Secretary Austin, did you If you listened to my comments, you told you would have heard me say how amazing our warfighters are.

[00:04:13]>> failure. The word heard I I heard exactly what you >> I will tell you how I used the word failure cuz I used the word failure to their leaders. You, sir, are the failure. Not the men and women who are on that frontline, not the the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction.

[00:04:28]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?

[00:04:46]>> leadership. Why don't Why don't you show some leadership and stand up for 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 cuz you have Trump Trump Derangement Syndrome and can't actually commit to anything meaningful. So, I put this on you, Senator.

[00:05:05]>> Secretary Hagerty, you have trillions You have a over a trillion dollars you're asking for 1 and 1/2 trillion dollars. It's not a question of money.

[00:05:12]It's a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win >> Political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops.

[00:05:21]>> Mr. Secretary, early in the conflict, day three, you said one of those core objectives was to quote destroy the missile threat. And as you restated on day five, to quote obliterate Iran's missiles and drones. Those were clearly and repeatedly stated core objectives of the campaign, which four months ago you declared had been completed victoriously with every single objective achieved. Were those objectives achieved four months ago?

[00:05:46]>> No one stated that every single missile was gone. Ultimately, combat ineffective means they're not able to dig them out of their UGFs and shoot at >> Had the missile threat been eliminated >> have underground facilities where they put missiles in them and hold on to them cuz they're the the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. So, we never expected they would stop having capabilities to shoot. The question is at scale against opponent like the United States of America, which went toe-to-toe with them and Iran couldn't >> You stated on March 8th, day nine of the war on 60 Minutes, you assured the American people of Iranian surrender.

[00:06:17]Does that remain your prediction?

[00:06:19]Ultimately, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon to threaten the United States of America. That has been the objective and it remains so. 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 for the campaign.

[00:06:42]>> time has expired.

[00:06:44]>> and effective military campaign against the largest state sponsor of terrorism >> Won't answer the question. Never getting any nuclear weapons, Senator.

[00:06:50]>> is correct.

[00:06:51]>> General Keane, let me just begin by expressing on behalf of all Georgians our immense gratitude and admiration for the service members uh who are making tremendous sacrifices and conducting themselves with extraordinary selflessness and professionalism on behalf of the United States uh and our state's unified condolences and grief for the families of the four killed in action uh and our hope for a swift recovery for the the nearly 100 wounded over the last 2 weeks. And thank you to you for your service to the nation.

[00:07:22]Um Mr. Hixson, you're requesting roughly $68 billion for the department through the supplemental, correct?

[00:07:33]>> 67, yes.

[00:07:35]>> And yesterday, your department stated publicly, quote, US forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking commercial vessels. That was a press release from your department. Is that a broadly accurate characterization of ongoing operations?

[00:07:59]>> That sounds broadly accurate, yes.

[00:08:01]>> On day 14 of this conflict, Mr. Secretary, day 14, nearly 5 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?

[00:08:17]>> Um they didn't have a navy any longer.

[00:08:19]It's 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 doesn't didn't mean by any stretch of the imagination absolute zero, but their capabilities >> Mr. Secretary, you stated that on day 14 of this conflict, in the second week of the conflict, you stated that Iran's military had been {quote} destroyed and {quote} made combat ineffective. Was that an accurate statement? Yes or no?

[00:08:51]>> Iran's ability to challenge the United States of America at the level of which we're capable of >> That's not what I asked, Mr. Secretary.

[00:08:57]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?

[00:09:08]>> What the American military >> Will you answer the question?

[00:09:12]Will you answer the question?

[00:09:16]Three weeks later you declared victory.

[00:09:19]That was now nearly 4 months ago.

[00:09:23]Three weeks after you'd already said Iran's military was a destroyed and combat ineffective, you said {quote} Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory.

[00:09:33]You said Iran's military had been rendered {quote} combat ineffective for years to come.

[00:09:39]And you stated we had {quote} achieved every single objective. Were those accurate statements?

[00:09:46]>> Uh it certainly was on behalf of the men and women in uniform a historic military victory over Iran.

[00:09:51]>> Had Iran's military been rendered {quote} combat ineffective for years to come? That was the statement that you made 4 months ago.

[00:09:57]>> had 160 naval vessels and they're gone.

[00:10:00]>> Mr. Secretary. You said You said 4 months ago You said 4 months ago >> industrial base. So, describe to me a country that doesn't have an air force, a navy, or a defense industrial base >> Mr. Secretary, you stated 4 months ago that Iran's military had been rendered {quote} combat >> you stated You can lob missiles >> Mr. Secretary, you stated 4 months ago that Iran's military had been rendered {quote} combat ineffective for years to come. Has Iran's military been for the last 4 months combat ineffective?

[00:10:29]>> It's been set back not just years, but likely decades considering you can't >> You stated 4 months ago You stated we had {quote} achieved Mr. Secretary, you stated we had {quote} achieved every single objective. Was that an accurate statement 4 months ago?

[00:10:45]>> The main objective of this was to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

[00:10:48]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 >> Early in the conflict on day 3, Mr. Secretary, early in the conflict day 3, you said one of those core objectives was to {quote} destroy the missile threat. And as you restated on day 5 to {quote} obliterate Iran's missiles and drones. Those were clearly and repeatedly stated core objectives of the campaign. Which 4 months ago you declared had been completed victoriously with every single objective achieved.

[00:11:20]Were those objectives achieved 4 months ago?

[00:11:23]>> No, I never stated that every single missile was gone. Ultimately, combat ineffective means they're not able to dig them out of their UGFs and shoot >> Had the missile threat been eliminated 4 months ago?

[00:11:33]>> where they put missiles in them and hold on to them cuz they're the the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. So, we never expected they would stop having capabilities to shoot. The question is at scale against opponent like the United States of America, which went toe-to-toe with them and Iran couldn't and cannot.

[00:11:48]>> on March 8th, day nine of the war on 60 Minutes, you assured the American people of Iranian surrender. Does that remain your prediction?

[00:11:57]>> Ultimately, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon to threaten the United States of America. That has been the objective and it remains so.

[00:12:04]>> 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 for the conflict.

[00:12:21]>> time has expired.

[00:12:22]>> and effective military campaign against the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the >> the question.

[00:12:27]>> Senator Peters >> [music]