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Sen. Chris Coons confronts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

newsMay 12, 2026361,797

Sen. Chris Coons told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Senate hearing that he was "stunned" by recent Pentagon firings and demanded explanations. Coons accused Hegseth of prioritizing culture-war fights over winning actual conflicts, citing the department's dismissal of senior leaders during active operations. Coons also criticized President Donald Trump, saying the president seems more focused on a "billion-dollar ballroom and a victory arch" than achieving military victory. The exchange highlights concerns about leadership stability and readiness as the Pentagon reshapes its senior ranks amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing naval operations.

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com

Hegseth gets performatively indignant instead of answering Chris Coons's straightforward question about what the military's plan is for reopening the Strait of Hormuz (It's pretty clear there is no plan ... )

15844h ago
Jack Brand57

Can we just let Colin Jost take the place of Hegseth in these hearings? We would get the exact same information, but it would be more entertaining. 🤷‍♂️

Chris⚖️Justice35

Losing an illegal war Pathetic losers with no hope

Tooey26

If Iran has been a threat for 47 years, why didn’t Trump didn’t go after them during his first term? 🤔

Saint Sherman - The Ultimate Patriot24

He should have asked the drunk why his "war machine" allowed the strait to be closed to all traffic?

Jason Barabba (he/him) 🌈🇺🇸🇮🇹23

I really wish someone would ask him if he needs a moment to control himself, suggest he sounds emotional, and then tell him he should smile more.

Hagen Patrick16

It's always fun to see some asshole who values his worth by the number of push-ups he can do, even in these circumstances.

T-Fish🇨🇦🍁16

He thinks it shows strength with answers like this and the veins popping in his head. It only shows weakness and ineptitude for a man woefully out of his league with the job he was given. And America is paying the price

Middlerage14

But they can confirm there will be "no dudes in dresses" or "beardos" 🙄

Robinette13

Seems all he has to say is that prez is great and everything he does is right. Okey dokey.

Christian Petersen12

Giving this horrible little man-child a ridiculous amount of power has really unleashed his inner psychopath.

The Hot Stepper12

Step 1. Bomb Step 2. ???? Step 3. Profit!! I imagine this was the entire war plan

🖇️ Jane11

He begins the same way but gets louder and exaggerates his facial features and hand gestures to the extreme. Nothing but a puffed up PAB with #MommyIssues

jmarty6263.bsky.social10

Highly unqualified to be in charge of the military.

David9

The man is so unqualified. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/05/i-re...

Jay Lionel8

The plan is to pretend that THE US is blockading it. Then berate allies for not mopping up their shit. Pretend some more. A bit more market manipulation. Then claim victory.

Greg He/Him/Hisownself8

a large portion of the US stopped developing in high school and now those people are in charge of the government and military.

Chrisby7

WHY didn't COONS mention the IRAN DEAL that OBAMA had in place those 7 years ago that dickhead, TFG, canceled!? Hmmmm, why isn't that mentioned here?? Hegseth again said 'previous administrations' blah blah blah - NO NUCLEAR WEAPON!!

Friend of Nature6

Hegseth needs to be reminded that CONGRESS SUPERVISES HIM!!

Liberty and Justice for All6

He's a little drama queen.

DH 🗽🐋 🐝 🧪 ❌👑 🖕🏻🧊6

There is no plan. Because there is no intelligence. There is no intelligence because tRump only brought myopic, damaged asshołes into his Cabinet and senior positions. He’s lost. Kegsbreath is lost. And, now, America is lost. 8647

HossJD5

This is what happens when you have a multi bankrupted real estate developer with multiple failed businesses and an alcoholic, white nationalist with terminal Little Man’s Syndrome plan a war.

Robyn5

It’s what they do especially if being questioned by a Democrat. “How dare you question the great Oz”

Kim Nichols5

Coons needs to take the upper hand with that POS - he keeps letting him interrupt.

Tom Shafer4

"47 years this has been going on," says Kegs-breath, yet the Strait of Hormuz has only been closed to commercial traffic since Donald and Bibi started their war-of-choice. No other American president was dumb enough to get dog-walked into this morass.

Bijou wants to eat the rich🏳️‍⚧️☕️4

They do have a plan. It will just be announced in 2 weeks, like trumps concept of a concept of a healthcare plan he announced would be out in 2 weeks. Nearly almost 11 years ago…. Patience is a virtue…. 💀 🩻

TheMeanstroke4

The fucking strait was open two months ago. Fuck YOU Hegseth

Giancarlo Collado ✨🩷💛🩵✨🇩🇴🍉3

Pete literally can’t defend his stupidity. So like all of Trumps goons all he can do is gaslight and yell. And if that doesn’t work yell louder. SMH 🤦🏾‍♂️

Jenna3

Performative indignance is a hallmark of this administration.

sbterp5.bsky.social3

Someone please tell Drunk petey that the 9/11 Terrorists didn't have a Navy or an Air Force.

Dogmama953

74 days in? So he's admitting they're past the 60 day limit?

Mr Answer3

So, please tell us why oil tankers are not getting through the strait if we control the fucking thing!

Max the Silent3

Can you not just shut that fucking idiots mouth and ask him to answer the fucking question straight ffs? It’s so easy to do but these people just let him off the hook being mild Mannered

I Love This Post2

Is the fact that Coons takes AIPAC money, lunches with Bibi and votes to confirm Trump’s federal judges have anything to do with the fact that he lets Hegseth blabber on like this? Is he not familiar with the phrase “answer my question”?

JoeCGiles2

Their plan is to keep it closed as long as possible. As a gift to US adversaries.

Carol Roper2

The USA plan should be to declare victory and withdraw. Let experienced diplomats (the USA administration has none) from other countries negotiate the opening of the Strait. Alternatively, the USA can face a potential stand off with Russia and China who support Iran.

Jerry, you gotta see the baby!2

it's all war-game video playing for the Fox news reader.

SJTMay2

I doubt that there was ever an actual plan!

Zdh872

Hegseth such a whiny asshole.

BeTheChange2

I will not, I can not bring myself to watch or listen another word come from its mouth. This defines INSANITY! At this stage the US needs to elevate itself just to reach ‘Banana Republic’ status! Let me know when an organized group of caring citizens are going to DC to end this. Until then…

Better Ways Better Days2

Arrogant BS spewing indignant half truthers need to answer the questions or have their microphones shut off instead of letting them eat up congress people time. Arrogant interrogation with derogatory trick questions intended to trap people by forcing limited answers should be prohibited too.

Hope, actually. She/Her🫘 🥄 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇺🇦2

“72 days in”…..wait, I thought the 60-day clock stopped?

Tim Something2

You say we're 74 days in, huh, Pete? Didn't you guys need Congressional authority for more than 60?

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