‘It’s the incompetence’: Pete Hegseth grilled on Iran war by Democratic lawmakers

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]it. How much did it cost American taxpayers in terms of the strike to the Iranian school where kids were killed?

[00:00:05]Do you have that number?

[00:00:07]>> In terms of the missiles we used, as I've said, that uh unfortunate situation remains under investigation.

[00:00:15]>> You don't know how much it cost investigation, but I wouldn't tie a cost to that to anything >> there. Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of the Iran war?

[00:00:30]I would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb.

[00:00:33]>> I'm going to give you that.

[00:00:34]>> I would simply ask you what the you're playing got questions about domestic things. I'm not your answer, sir. But let me What would it cost? What would you pay to ensure Iran doesn't get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?

[00:00:44]>> I reclaim my time. Do you not know? You had no one do the analysis of what the increased cost of gas and food on the American people are going to be.

[00:00:52]>> What is the cost of Iran holding that straight at issue with nuclear weapons?

[00:00:55]It's $631 billion, which means it's an increase of $5,000 a year for American households. Now, this economy, you know what is upsetting to you even do the analysis on how much it's costing the American people. It's one thing if you said, "Okay, it cost the American people $5,000, but we think it's worth it. Uh, that's what we've done in World War II and other wars.

[00:01:18]Here's what it costs. You got to pay for it." You don't even know what the average American is paying. You don't know what we paid in terms of the missiles that hit the Iranian school.

[00:01:27]You don't know what we're paying in terms of gas. You don't know what we're paying in terms of food. Your 25 billion number is totally off. It's the incompetence. It's the incompetence.

[00:01:37]Listen, how is this war going? Do you think we're winning >> militarily on the battlefield? It's been an astounding military success.

[00:01:44]>> But are we winning the war?

[00:01:46]>> Absolutely.

[00:01:46]>> Okay. So, do you call Iran closing the straight of Hormuz winning? Well, I would say the blockade that we hold that doesn't allow anything to come in or out of Iranian ports always.

[00:01:57]>> So, we've blockaded their blockade. So, they blockaded us and then we blockaded their blockade. That's like saying tag it. Or, you know, if President Madison has said, well, the British just burned down Washington, but don't worry, we're going to burn it down as well. Now, quickly, on March 13th in a press conference, you said we will give them no quarter, no mercy. in order for no quarter or no survivors is a war crime under the G Geneva Conventions. You understand that's murder. Do you stand by that statement?

[00:02:26]>> Uh the Department of War fights to win and we ensure that our war fighters have the rules of engagement necessary to be as effectively clear. You call Democratic members of Congress to be tried for sedition for reminding our troops to follow the law. But when you tell them to commit a war crime, you stand by yourself >> for insinuating the laws that we're giving them are unlawful.