Hegseth Spars With Senate Democrats Over War in Iran

“The biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless naysayers and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans. Defeatists from the cheap seats who, two months in, seek to undermine the incredible efforts that have been undertaken and the historic nature of taking on a 47-year threat. With the courage no other president has had to great success and great opportunity for preventing Iran from having a nuclear weapon.” “The War Powers Resolution specifies that a war initiated by a president without congressional approval must be concluded within 60 days. We’re right at the 60-day deadline. Is the president intending to either seek congressional authorization for the war in Iran, or send us the legally required certification, that he needs an additional 30 days to remove U.S. forces from the war?” “Ultimately, I would defer to the White House and White House counsel on that. However, we are in a cease-fire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops.” “First of all, this war is costing so much money, over $25 billion already, estimates $1 billion a day. And they’re feeling it every single day at the gas pump, with higher prices for both fuel, for diesel, for gasoline for their cars. They’re also feeling it with higher grocery costs.” “The question I would ask to you and to others is what is the cost of a nuclear-armed Iran? What is the cost to the American people if the world’s most dangerous regime has a nuclear weapon?”