Troops at polling sites and true cost of Iran war: Key takeaways from Hegseth’s clash in the Senate
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced tough questioning from the Senate Armed Services Committee about the Iran war, including concerns over the conflict's cost and potential use of troops at polling stations during the midterms. Hegseth clashed with Democratic senators, defending the war and praising President Donald Trump for his decision to intervene.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, facing questions about the Iran war. Hegseth was accused of being a war criminal by a protester during his opening statement. Democratic senators, including Elissa Slotkin and Richard Blumenthal, pressed Hegseth on the use of troops at polling stations and the true cost of the conflict. Hegseth evaded initial questions about deploying troops to polling stations, eventually stating he would not follow an illegal order. The Pentagon's acting chief financial officer, Jules Hurst III, reported the war had cost $25 billion, a figure disputed by Blumenthal. Hegseth defended the war, citing the need to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and praising President Donald Trump's decision to intervene.
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