US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that America’s greatest enemy at present is not any foreign power but the 'defeatist' Democratic members of Congress. Appearing before lawmakers for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war with Iran, Hegseth accused Democrats of obstructing the country’s defense efforts through their statements and actions.

During the hearing, Hegseth reiterated former President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program, asserting that the United States would never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. He said top negotiators were working toward a deal to prevent that outcome. While welcoming dialogue on the Iran situation, he sharply criticized Democratic lawmakers for questioning the justification of the war and the record $1.5 trillion defense budget, calling their position a threat to national security.

Democratic members strongly protested Hegseth’s remarks, accusing the administration of violating the Constitution by starting the Iran war without congressional approval and labeling critics as enemies for challenging the defense budget.