'I Don't Appreciate The Smirk': Rosen, Hegseth Clash Over Loomer Involvement In Personnel Decisions

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During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) clashed with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over the alleged involvement of far-right activist Laura Loomer in personnel decisions.

Transcript

00:00Senator Rosen, you're recognized. I thought I would just create a stir down there.

00:04I thank you to my seatmates on both sides. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We take care of each other.

00:12Again, thank you, Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, for holding this hearing. Mr. Secretary,

00:16we have a short amount of time, so I'm just going to ask a few simple questions, and I would just

00:21appreciate if for some of them you would just answer yes or no. And so, Secretary Hegseth,

00:26would you agree that every senior official in the Department of Defense must reflect the values

00:31and conduct that our service members must uphold and our citizens expect?

00:39Senator, we want to uphold the highest possible standards. I'll take that for a yes.

00:44So would you also agree, then, that anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories have no place

00:49in our government or military? Yes or no?

00:55They should not. Thank you.

00:56So would you also agree that anyone who has posted, and I'm going to quote,

01:00anti-Semitic conspiracy theories lifted right out of a neo-Nazi playbook,

01:06end quote, shouldn't be anywhere near a position of power? Yes or no?

01:12Since I don't believe the characterization of many officials in the news media,

01:18I would need to see precisely what's being characterized.

01:20But generally, would you not say that if we thought something was coming out of a neo-Nazi playbook,

01:26it doesn't have any place in our Department of Defense?

01:31Now, Secretary Hegseth, the quote that I just read you was referencing Ms. Kingsley Wilson,

01:36the DOD press secretary. It's a direct quote from her,

01:40who my Republican colleagues on this committee have also expressed alarm over due to her comments.

01:45In fact, one colleague said, and I'm going to quote again,

01:47obviously, I don't agree with her comments.

01:49I trust the Pentagon will address this, end quote.

01:53However, in the months since, not only have you not addressed these anti-Semitic comments,

01:58you have promoted Ms. Wilson.

02:01This seems to be at odds, honestly, with President Trump's commitment,

02:04very public commitment to combat anti-Semitism, which you just said you two agreed with.

02:09So, Secretary Hegseth, given the rise in anti-Semitic violence, hate crimes in our nation,

02:14and to show that the Trump administration, the Trump administration, your administration,

02:19does have a zero-tolerance policy for anti-Semitism,

02:24will you dismiss Ms. Kingsley from her role as a U.S. military spokesperson today, yes or no?

02:31Again, that's why I referenced the context and characterization.

02:35We'll send you the quote, sir.

02:36I've worked directly with her.

02:38She does a fantastic job.

02:40And there's any suggestion that I or her or others are party to anti-Semitism

02:44is a mischaracterization attempting to win political points.

02:48Senator, you're attempting to win political points on the backs of mischaracterizing the statements

02:52of a member of my department, and I'm not going to stand for that.

02:55You are not a serious person.

02:57You are not serious about rooting out, fighting anti-Semitism within the ranks of our DOD.

03:02It's despicable.

03:03You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

03:05I'm going to move on.

03:06Just General Hawke.

03:08This sounded an inexplicable dismissal of General Hawke.

03:11He serves both as director of the National Security Agency, commander of U.S. Cybercom.

03:15It's deeply concerning.

03:16Raises significant questions about the decision-making process, its potential consequences.

03:23Public reports indicate that the removal of General Hawke, who has served his country proudly,

03:29has been influenced by social media influencer.

03:32An influencer, a personality on social media, Laura Loomer, spreads conspiracy theories.

03:38She's been denounced even by Republicans.

03:39And the idea is that any leaders within our agencies responsible for our nation's security,

03:45somebody would be dismissed.

03:46Based on the advice of a social media influencer, it's alarming to say the least.

03:52It's surely not how we should be running our military.

03:54So were you consulted regarding General Hawke's dismissal, yes or no?

03:58Well, Senator, I would not advise believing everything you read in the media.

04:05Were you consulted?

04:05And I'm consulted on every single decision.

04:07I'm the decision-maker for the department.

04:09It's your department, Mr. President.

04:10It's the pleasure of the president, and we have the prerogative to make those decisions

04:14for the best for the country, and we did that.

04:15Did you personally approve Mr. Hawke's dismissal, yes or no?

04:20Anyone coming or going at the Defense Department, especially at that level,

04:23would ultimately be a decision made by me, and I stand behind that.

04:26Did you personally relieve him?

04:29Did you personally relieve him, yes or no?

04:31Anyone at that level who is relieved would be relieved by the Secretary of Defense.

04:36Was there a specific justification for General Hawke's dismissal?

04:41Was there a specific justification for General Hawke's dismissal?

04:51Ma'am, we all serve at the pleasure of the president,

04:53and the president deserves the type of commanders and advisors that he thinks

04:57will best equip him to accomplish the mission.

04:59Did you discuss General Hawke's dismissal with Laura Loomer prior to his removal?

05:02I don't discuss who I talk about anything with, but ultimately this is my decision,

05:08and he serves at the pleasure of the president, and that's why he's no longer there.

05:11So do you believe it's appropriate for any social media personality

05:15to influence personnel decisions in your department, yes or no?

05:22I believe your time is up, Senator.

05:24Oh, it is not up to you to tell me when my time is up.

05:27Well, the time of the senator.

05:28And I am going to say, Mr. Secretary, you're either feckless or complicit.

05:31You're not in control of your department.

05:34Yours is unserious.

05:35It is shocking.

05:35You're not combating anti-Semitism within your ranks.

05:39It's a dangerous and pivotal time in our nation's history.

05:42Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

05:43I yield back, and I don't appreciate the smirk, sir.

05:46You are the Secretary of Defense.

05:48The time of the gentlelady has expired.

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