GOP Sens. Press Hegseth: 'America's Reputation Is on the Line'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was getting pressed even from the right during his Senate budget hearing before the subcommittee on appropriations on armed services.

"America's reputation is on the line," former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., implored Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan 'Raisin' Caine during the hearing.

"Will we defend Democratic allies against authoritarian aggressors?"

McConnell, who voluntarily declined to run again for Senate leadership amid long-running opposition to President Donald Trump, was one of three Senate Republicans who voted against Hegseth's nomination.

But now, McConnell chairs the committee that controls the Defense budget for Hegseth, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's spending levels and debt limit increase remain a difficult issue within the Republican Party.

It is particularly noteworthy with the slim margin in the Senate and all Democrats unilaterally vowing to vote against the budget because it gives Trump a legislative victory.

"We don't want a headline at the end of this conflict that says Russia wins, and America loses," McConnell told Hegseth. "That's extremely important if we're going to continue to play the role in the world that the vast majority of members of Congress think we should still play."

Hegseth admitted "Russia is the aggressor," but he also noted Trump is committed to peace over war.

"Vladimir Putin knows that President Trump is strong," Hegseth said. "He knows his word means something, and as a result, a negotiated peace in Ukraine makes America look strong, makes us look like we understand the state of the world."

Hegseth also received criticism from the left, as Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., wants Defense spending to go to Ukraine instead of solely to the U.S. military.

"It seems, to me, concerning that the 2026 request eliminates aid to Ukraine entirely," Coons said. "We cannot abandon Ukraine. That would put us significantly at a strategic disadvantage."

Hegseth argued Americans should be funding America's defense first, because funding Ukraine's and America's is twice as costly.

"The alternative of endless war that is largely funded by the United States and fought by Ukrainians, for which the Russians have unlimited resources to continue to pour in, does not make sense strategically for the United States," Hegseth said.

Editor's note: This story was updated to note McConnell left Senate leadership voluntarily. It was originally stated he was ousted, but his office noted McConnell had never lost a vote to be the Senate GOP leader. It remains, however, as publicly reported, McConnell and Trump have not spoken directly since Dec. 16, 2020, which was one day after the Electoral College vote was finalized for former President Joe Biden's election.

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