Pat Ryan Tells Sec. Pete Hegseth To His Face: 'You Should Resign'

Forbes Breaking News

At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) told Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth that he should resign.

Transcript

00:00I recognize a gentleman from New York, Mr. Ryan.

00:03Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you both for being here.

00:06We have all worn the uniform. We've all served in combat.

00:10We all love our country. We all revere our troops.

00:14And I really want to speak with you both, not as partisans, but as patriots.

00:19I want to talk specifically about the events at Fort Bragg the other day.

00:23General Cain, I want to start with you.

00:25As a junior officer, were you ever required to make a pledge of political loyalty?

00:30Yes or no?

00:33Sir, as you know, we're an apolitical military, so, you know, no.

00:39At any time in your 30-plus years of incredibly distinguished service,

00:43did you have to make a pledge of partisan or political loyalty?

00:47No, sir.

00:49Did you ever serve in any unit or command at any level where service members

00:52were required to make a pledge of political loyalty?

00:56No, sir.

00:58And I want to commend you.

00:59You've been on the record on this, including in your confirmation hearings,

01:03where you clarified, quote, I've never worn any political merchandise

01:07or said anything to that effect.

01:09I appreciate that.

01:11That is the standard, and I commend you for saying so

01:14and continuing to model that.

01:16General Cain, one last question for you.

01:18Should soldiers have to pledge political loyalty

01:21to participate in an event with our commander-in-chief?

01:24Yes or no, please.

01:27Sir, I'm not – first, no.

01:29I don't – I'm not aware of any time in history that soldiers, sailors, airmen,

01:35Marines have been asked to do that.

01:39I think –

01:40And I'm sorry, General.

01:41I do want to – just in the interest of time,

01:43I want to talk about what happened at Fort Bragg two days ago.

01:46There was guidance put out, and this has been verified by multiple independent news outlets,

01:52saying, quote, these are to the soldiers of the 18th Airborne Corps in the U.S. Army.

01:57If soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration,

02:02then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.

02:05This is swapped out of the event with the president.

02:09In addition, in an incredibly disturbing incident,

02:13there was a pop-up shop selling MAGA merchandise on post at Fort Bragg.

02:20And to summarize this, there was a commander from Bragg who said on the record, quote,

02:26this has been a bad week for the Army, for anyone who cares about us being a neutral institution.

02:33This was shameful.

02:36If those are the facts, and I know the Army is investigating at least the MAGA pop-up shop,

02:42is that appropriate, General Cain?

02:45Sir, I haven't seen any of these reports.

02:48You know, I'm not familiar with them, but as I mentioned earlier and in my confirmation hearing,

02:54you know, the nation demands a political, non-partisan military.

02:59I appreciate you saying that and happy to share those reports.

03:02Secretary Hagseth, are you familiar with DOD Directive 1344.10,

03:07political activities of the members of the Armed Forces?

03:10First off, I don't buy into your insinuation that pledges are being done under this administration.

03:16I reclaim my time.

03:18Are you familiar with this DOD Directive?

03:21There's never one time in my service or in this defense department.

03:24Will you please answer these questions?

03:25I'm answering your question, where politics has been considered for service members.

03:28Are you familiar with this directive?

03:31Yes or no?

03:33Which directive?

03:34DOD Directive 1344.10.

03:36I'm happy to provide you a copy.

03:38There's even a one-page red and green cheat sheet.

03:42Are you familiar with it?

03:44This is the same directive from when we were all in uniform.

03:47I'm sure I am.

03:48Has anything changed in that directive under your guidance, given what happened two days ago at Fort Bragg?

03:54Is there a new policy change that we're not aware of?

03:57Again, I totally reject your insinuation.

03:59Is there a policy change to DOD Directive 1344.10?

04:03I know what you're attempting to insinuate, but there's no policy change and there is no policy.

04:07Mr. Secretary, have you ever worn a MAGA hat in front of the troops?

04:12I own plenty of MAGA hats, but I don't know what I have.

04:15Have you ever worn one in front of the troops at an official event?

04:19I don't believe so.

04:21I don't believe so.

04:21Do you think it's appropriate for the President of the United States to wear political merchandise,

04:25including a MAGA hat, at official events, including West Point Commencement?

04:29The Commander-

04:30Yes or no?

04:30I can wear whatever hat he wants to include the phrase, make America great again, because I would like to make America great again as well.

04:38So you think that's appropriate?

04:39The Commander-in-Chief has the right, in front of his troops, to wear whatever he'd like.

04:44Okay.

04:44I strongly disagree with you, and I urge you both, especially you, General Kane,

04:49as we see an increasingly political rhetoric, including from the Secretary, to please for the good of our troops.

04:56This is an incredibly difficult moment, and we need leaders like you to continue to echo the apolitical nature.

05:01I have 12 seconds.

05:03Mr. Secretary, I don't say this lightly.

05:05I have to say this on the record.

05:07I think your tenor, Secretary of Defense, has been shameful and weak, and you should resign.

05:13I yield back.

05:14Gentlemen.

05:14I yield back.

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