Hegseth and Caine’s first public hearing on Iran war dominated by partisan clashes

In what was War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine’s first opportunity to answer questions from lawmakers about the war in Iran, partisanship was the dominant feature of their appearance before the House Armed Services Committee. 

Hegseth was quick to criticize Democrats, the previous administration, and his predecessor, while lawmakers’ five-minute sessions to question the witnesses were largely split along political lines.

During his opening remarks, Hegseth criticized Democrats and “some Republicans” who have been critical of the war against Iran, arguing that the “biggest adversaries we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans two months in.”

The comment was brought up by multiple Democrats, who took turns criticizing him, the administration, and the war in Iran, while he frequently responded to their comments by accusing them of asking him “gotcha questions.”

In the first of many contentious moments with Democrats,