Pete Hegseth Gets Under Dem Senator’s Skin with One Well Timed Line [WATCH]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) exchanged tense words during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, as the Nevada Democrat pressed for answers about the recent dismissal of Gen. Timothy Haugh.

The heated exchange ended with Rosen accusing Hegseth of being “feckless or complicit” and scolding him for allegedly smirking during the proceedings.

The conflict arose during a scheduled questioning session, where Sen. Rosen attempted to pin down who was responsible for the April termination of Gen. Haugh, who had been appointed in 2023 by former President Joe Biden to lead both the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command.

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Gen. Haugh’s dismissal followed reports that the Trump administration was conducting personnel reviews across the Department of Defense.

“Do you believe it’s appropriate for any social media personality to influence personnel decisions at your department, yes or no?” Rosen asked.

Secretary Hegseth responded, “I believe your time is up, senator.”

Visibly frustrated, Rosen shot back, “Oh, it is not up to you to tell me when my time is up and I am going to say, Mr. Secretary, you are either feckless or complicit. You’re not in control of your department. It is unserious.”

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Rosen added that she “did not appreciate” what she described as a smirk on Hegseth’s face as the exchange came to a close.

Hegseth maintained that he plays an active role in all high-level personnel decisions within the Department of Defense and stood by the administration’s authority to remove and appoint leadership as it sees fit.

While Rosen continued pressing Hegseth for a direct answer on who authorized the termination, reports have circulated in recent weeks suggesting that Trump administration allies, including political activist Laura Loomer, had flagged certain senior officials for review.

Loomer, a prominent conservative commentator, told The Washington Post that she had urged President Trump to remove Gen. Haugh, in part because he was selected by Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Milley, who served in the Biden-Harris administration, was a central figure in overseeing the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, a mission that ended with the deaths of 13 American service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians in a bombing at Kabul’s Abbey Gate.

The firing of Gen. Haugh followed shortly after Loomer’s reported outreach.

The Trump administration has not officially confirmed whether external recommendations influenced the decision.

However, Hegseth reiterated that the Department’s leadership changes are made based on performance, alignment with policy priorities, and the administration’s strategic objectives.

Hegseth did not directly respond to Rosen’s characterization of his demeanor during the exchange but emphasized that the Department remains focused on restoring accountability and effectiveness in national defense operations.

The confrontation between Hegseth and Rosen adds to the ongoing scrutiny of how senior appointments and removals are being handled under President Trump’s second term, particularly in national security and military leadership.

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