00:00I don't know if you fully appreciate how much the American people do not support this war.
00:05It is an unauthorized war. Normally, when you come to Congress, it's a way for the American people to be
00:11part of that discussion.
00:14The American people, particularly in my state of New York, are upset for a lot of reasons.
00:19First of all, this war is costing so much money.
00:23Over $25 billion already, estimates $1 billion a day.
00:27And they're feeling it every single day at the gas pump with higher prices for both fuel, for diesel, for
00:34gasoline for their cars.
00:36They're also feeling it with higher grocery costs.
00:39And they're exhausted. They are truly exhausted.
00:42On top of that, on top of that, they have so many grave concerns about how this war is being
00:49prosecuted.
00:52They read in the paper that 22 schools have been hit.
00:56They read in the paper about a girl's school, hundreds getting killed.
01:02We have a debate going on in this country about AI.
01:06A serious debate about AI.
01:09And I haven't heard yet from you that you will not allow AI to make final targeting determinations, even when
01:16nuclear weapons are being used.
01:18That's a huge issue that we need to discuss.
01:21So I want to start from the top, Secretary Hegseth.
01:25Why do you continue to prosecute a war that the American people aren't behind?
01:32First of all, I appreciate the opportunity for that closed session where we had an unsurprisingly very different discussion than
01:38we have here with the cameras on.
01:40We support this.
01:41Because my job is to represent New Yorkers.
01:43And I can tell you, when I talk to them, all across my state, they are furious.
01:49And they expect me to explain to them why they are furious.
01:54And, Senator, when I talk to Americans, and especially when I talk to the troops, they are grateful for a
01:59president who has the courage to take on this threat after 47 years of what Iran has done targeting and
02:04killing Americans.
02:05And what it would mean to the world if Iran's nuclear ambitions were actually achieved.
02:10So the question I would ask to you and to others is, what is the cost of a nuclear-armed
02:14Iran?
02:15What is the cost to the American people if the world's most dangerous regime has a nuclear weapon?
02:20But the truth is, they don't want war coming to this shore.
02:23And when you do a decapitation operation, the likelihood is going to be exchanged in the United States.
02:28There's no evidence that we are safer because of this war.
02:31We did not have any evidence that Iran intended to imminently attack this country in any way, shape, or form.
02:38So I disagree with your assessment that we are under threat.
02:41Do you not believe them when they say death to America?
02:44Listen, our adversaries use rhetoric all the time.
02:48What I'm concerned about is we are not safer.
02:51And I would just like to know why you have not sought the support of the American people.
02:56And three out of five Americans are against this war today.
03:02I believe we do have the support of the American people.
03:04And we have briefed regularly what this mission looks like and why it's critically important that we undertake it.
03:10And I would remind you and this group that we're two months in to an effort.
03:14And many congressional Democrats, as I pointed out, want to declare defeat two months in.
03:20Iraq took how many years?
03:22Afghanistan took how many years?
03:23And they were nebulous missions that people went along with.
03:26This is different.
03:27This is a defined mission set that we have had great success in pursuing against a determined enemy who seeks
03:34nuclear weapons.
03:35And I'm proud of the opportunity to remind the American people because they believe in it as well that they
03:40can't have it.
03:41You don't care whether the American people support this war.
03:44The American people are quite smart.
03:46They understand and see through spin.
03:48They know that a regime that says death to America, that seeks nuclear weapons and the ability to deliver.
03:53Did they lie about the range of their missiles?
03:55How much more were you asking American people to pay for this war?
04:01Diego Garcia.
04:02Right now, do you want it a billion dollars a day?
04:04Do you want it two billion dollars a day?
04:05You're asking for $200 billion more to fund this war and to make sure we have what we...
04:09We didn't ask for $200 billion.
04:11I don't know where you got that number from, Senator.
04:12I think you got it from the news, which you should be careful what you read in the news.
04:16Okay, Mr. Hegseth.
04:17Secretary Hegseth, here's a few more.
04:19Let's talk about how you're prosecuting the war.
04:22What is your response to targeting that has resulted in the destruction of schools, hospitals, civilian places?
04:31Why did you cut by 90% the division that's supposed to help you not target civilians?
04:37And do you know the impact of a strategic failure at a war when you have so many civilian casualties?
04:43You may have tactically completed a mission well, but strategically is not meeting your goals because of the harms to
04:50civilians.
04:50What is the cost of that?
04:52Let's leave time for an answer.
04:54No military, no country works harder at every echelon to ensure they protect civilian lives than the United States military.
05:02And that is an ironclad commitment that we make, no matter how, no matter what systems we use.
05:06Then why did you cut the department by 90%?
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05:20Just.
05:21You must be there.
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