The hearing was billed as a routine discussion on defense appropriations.
But the moment Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sat down, it became clear Democrats were preparing for an ambush.
Rep. Betty McCollum opened fire, skipping over the budget’s big picture and going straight for Hegseth’s decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles in response to widespread violent riots.
“Where in your limited budget, Sir, in the remainder of this fiscal year, are you going to pull the money to cover these deployments?”
She expected financial figures.
But Hegseth didn’t respond with spreadsheets. He responded with battle scars.
“Well, Congresswoman, thank you for the question. You are right. We are both originally from Minnesota, which is why I recall 2020 quite well,” he said.
Then came the indictment of her failed colleague and governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.
Hegseth unloaded with both barrels:
“When Governor Walz abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground, and also allowed five da…