Hegseth Throws Down With McConnell in WILD Hearing

McConnell added, “These key lines of effort only work if we put them on solid fiscal footing.”

House appropriators highlighted similar worries about the structure of the Pentagon budget earlier Tuesday when Hegseth sat for several hours, testifying before the members.

Trump earlier this month declared he would recall 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany and promised further measures in an ongoing disagreement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The president has repeatedly scolded U.S. partners for failing to join the fight in Iran or help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the countries “cowards” and hinting at threats to take Washington out of the NATO military alliance.

Strained relationships with U.S. partners and allies “only serves our adversaries’ interests and limits our capacity and deterrent power globally,” McConnell told Hegseth.