'If The President Told You To Shoot People In The Legs, Would You?': Jill Tokuda Grills Pete Hegseth

Forbes Breaking News

At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) questioned Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth.

Transcript

00:00You're not recognized as a gentlelady from Hawaii, Mr. Kuda.

00:03Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I agree we've had many performances today, but what we'd like is some answers.

00:08Mr. Secretary, did you invite Elon Musk for a briefing on war plans with China to the Pentagon?

00:15Yes or no is simple.

00:17There's been a lot of hyperbole and incorrect reporting around that situation,

00:23but we did invite Elon over to come talk to us generally, but there was no war plans being discussed.

00:30Okay, so whose idea was it to invite him to the Pentagon for a briefing?

00:35You mentioned you served at the pleasure of the President.

00:37Was it the President's will to have him come and be briefed?

00:41As you know, at that time, Elon Musk was leading up Doge efforts,

00:45and we've taken a great investment in Doge at DOD,

00:49and so getting his input on how we make DOD more efficient.

00:52It makes a great deal of sense.

00:54Okay, but don't you think it's a conflict of interest for the world's richest man?

00:59Many of the contracts that the DOD is engaged in, billions of dollars of contracts going to his company,

01:06and he is, as to your point, was leading Doge, which was involved in cutting hundreds of contracts,

01:12but also becoming intimately aware of the platforms and the requirements that would be given out for new contracts.

01:17Did you not think it was a conflict of interest to invite someone with financial interest?

01:22And to the Pentagon to have first-hand knowledge of what they could then bid on for their own, you know, enrichment.

01:29Ma'am, it was just an informal discussion, but I'll tell you, anyone that knows our Defense Department knows,

01:34we show no preference to any company other than what your capabilities are,

01:37and we're grateful for the places where his companies benefit our national defense.

01:42So for a $280 million donation, the world's richest man with companies intimately linked and involved

01:49in billion-dollar contracts with the Department of Defense gain access into the Pentagon.

01:55So would you say that any company right now that has multi-billion-dollar contracts with the Department of Defense

02:01has access to the Pentagon right now?

02:04One-hour briefings with you, personally.

02:06On the regular basis, I meet with many people and many different companies

02:11and many different aspects of our defense industrial base

02:14to ensure we have the best possible capabilities.

02:17It would be imprudent to do that.

02:18Well, I'm sure for an investment of $280 million,

02:21Elon's investors are quite happy that it's come out into the billions.

02:24I want to jump questions right now.

02:26Mr. Secretary, on January 6, 2021, rioters and looters attacked federal law enforcement officials,

02:33vandalized and destroyed federal government property,

02:34and caused an estimated $2.7 billion in damages right here at the Capitol.

02:39Would you have sent the National Guard and the Marines in on that day?

02:44Well, unfortunately, President Trump requested the National Guard in advance, and that was...

02:48It took him quite a long time.

02:49I'm asking you, as Secretary of Defense,

02:51would you have sent in the National Guard and the Marines on that day?

02:55We had 140 Capitol Police officers injured.

02:58One died the next day.

02:59Would you have sent in the National Guard and the Marines?

03:02As I said, President Trump directed National Guard to be there in advance.

03:05And I think you can look at the record of how long it actually took for him to actually send them in.

03:10But it's good to hear that it sounds like you would have sent in the National Guard

03:13and the Marines on that day in which the insurrection was taking place right here at the Capitol.

03:19Mr. Secretary, during your confirmation hearing,

03:21you failed to deny the conclusion that you would carry out an order

03:25to shoot protesters in the legs.

03:27So let me be direct.

03:28Given what we are seeing across the country right now,

03:31would you carry out or issue an order by the President for our military to fire upon protesters

03:36actively engaging in their civil right to exercise free speech,

03:41their First Amendment rights?

03:42Would you give that order from the President?

03:45I assume you're insinuating what's going on in Los Angeles,

03:49and I wouldn't call that a people protest.

03:49Not just Los Angeles.

03:50If you take a look at protests throughout the country, it's a simple question.

03:54If directed by the President, would you order our military to fire upon protesters?

04:00Simple yes or no.

04:01Ma'am, we have, as you know, and as this committee knows,

04:04we have standard rules of engagement that are in place that give guidance to our troops,

04:10and they abide by them.

04:11I'm asking what you would do.

04:13Again, you said you serve at the pleasure of the President.

04:17Is that not true?

04:17I do serve at the pleasure of the President.

04:20So if the President told you to shoot people in the legs, would you do so?

04:24Now, you failed to answer this question.

04:25It's only a confirmation hearing when asked by members of the Senate.

04:29Because I refuse to accept a false hypothetical that's attempting to put me in a corner

04:33and make it look like a representation of another.

04:35At a time when we have more Marine the National Guard in Los Angeles than we do in Syria and Iran alone,

04:41I don't think this is a hypothetical.

04:43This is an actual situation that we are dealing with right now.

04:47So, again, I will ask the question, the last 14 seconds I have,

04:49would you order our military to shoot at their fellow countrymen if ordered by the President?

04:56I think it's interesting that for four years, insurrection was the left's favorite word.

05:00I think we know your answer.

05:01Thank you, Mr. Chair.

05:01I yield back.

05:02In L.A., they were generally yields back.

05:04Generally, the time's expired.

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