SLO County congressman calls Pete Hegseth an ‘embarrassment’ at hearing
Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a heated U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, calling him an “embarrassment to the United States” and “unfit” to lead the department.
Carbajal, a Democrat from Santa Barbara, ripped into Hegseth for what the congressman saw as evasive answers to questions about this week’s ICE raids, Hegseth’s national security breaches and his policy on Ukraine.
Carbajal repeatedly pressed Hegseth for direct yes or no answers, criticized his handling of classified information and ultimately demanded his resignation, stating that Hegseth had “done nothing to inspire confidence in (his) ability to lead competently.”
As Hegseth danced around Carabjal’s questions, the California congressman became increasingly frustrated, interrupting him to demand simple answers and ultimately telling him to “get the hell out and let somebody competently lead this department.”
Carbajal called Hegseth an “embarrassment to this country.”
Carbajal questions Hegseth on California ICE raids
The first of Carbajal’s questions focused on the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles, which sparked protests and the deployment of the National Guard in response, an action taken by President Trump without the approval of Gov. Gavin Newsom. ICE has since made its way up the Central Coast, conducting raids at farms in Oxnard and Santa Maria.
Newsom said calling in the National Guard was unnecessary and only escalated a situation that was under control by local law enforcement.
On Thursday, a federal judge issued an order that deemed President Trump’s deployment of California National Guard troops illegal, but the ruling was put on hold by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Carbajal opened with a question about how the Marines would be used in the operation, repeatedly cutting Hegseth off when the secretary offered longer responses.
Carbajal: “Everyone here should be alarmed that the president has sent armed forces into a city against the wishes of a governor and mayor. I am concerned this administration is purposely escalating the situation with this step and politicizing our armed forces in the process. Let’s call it for what it is, it’s political theater. Hegseth, are the Marines in Los Angeles ordered to protect property by any means necessary?”
Hegseth: “Sir, I would say the ICE officers and police officers being attacked is not political theater, um —”
Carbajal: “Just yes or no, just yes or no.”
Hegseth: “The National Guard and Marines have the full authority to protect federal ICE agents —’
Carbajal: “Yes or no. Can you just say yes or no? This isn’t Fox anymore. Just yes or no.”
Hegseth: “They’re there to protect federal agents and federal —”
Carbajal: “Another B.S. answer. Under the (Standing Rules for the Use of Force), the use of force, are Marines allowed to fire warning shots?”
Hegseth: “No.”
Carbajal: “Now that’s more like it. Isn’t that easy?”
Congressman questions Hegseth about Signal group chat
In March, Hegseth came under fire for sharing national security secrets in encrypted text groupchats on the messaging platform Signal two separate times. Included in the groupchats were his family members, personal lawyer and the editor of The Atlantic.
Carbajal briefly grilled Hegseth about the breaches of national security on Thursday.
Carbajal: “Will you take responsibility for having made a mistake — not to mention, many people would say, break the law — in participating in the Signal group chat that included a journalist, your wife, your brother, where classified information was shared?”
Hegseth: “Sir, every way I communicate is authorized.”
Carbajal: “OK, if you want to say that. ... I have called for your resignation. I didn’t think you were qualified before your confirmation, and you have done nothing to inspire confidence in your ability to lead competently. You broke the law in sharing classified information and in doing so endangered the lives of our service members that you are responsible for. Your inability to hold yourself accountable makes you incapable to lead. This alone makes you unfit to be the secretary of defense.”
Carbajal calls out defense secretary’s ability to lead
Carbajal concluded with questions about U.S. policy on the war in Ukraine, American allies and a scathing attack against Hegseth’s ability to lead.
Carbajal: “Secretary, do you think the United States should continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, a nation that is hostile towards the United States?”
Hegseth: “Well, as you know, sir, President Trump is committed to peace —”
Carbajal: “I just want yes or no answers.”
The two went back and forth, speaking over each other as they raised their voices.
Hegseth: “The United States has spent billions of dollars over the years —”
Carbajal: “Yes or no, yes or no, yes or no. Can I get a yes or no out of you?”
Hegseth: “We continue to send —”
Carbajal: “Come on. Come on. It’s that easy, kindergartners could give me a yes or no. Yes or no?”
Hegseth: “Yes, we support peace in Ukraine.”
Carbajal: “Come on, is this really leadership? You’re an embarrassment to the United States.”
The congressman continued grilling Hegseth, asking whether, in the situation where Russia invades a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, he would recommend Trump fulfills Article Five of the treaty. Article Five is a collective defense obligation that states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.
Hegseth: “Well, Russia has not invaded NATO allies —”
Carbajal: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no ... I reclaim my time. Yes or no, it’s that simple.”
Hegseth: “There’s Article Five in NATO, which we recognize.”
Carbajal: “So is the answer yes or no?”
Hegseth: “That’s what Article Five is, yes.”
Carbajal: “Good. I’m glad you brought yourself to saying yes.”
Carbajal then switched his approach to question allegiance to President Trump.
Carbajal: “Do you think political allegiance to Trump is a requirement for serving our nation, either in uniform or a civilian in the department?”
Hegesth: “I’m incredibly proud as there are millions of American —”
Carbajal: “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not, not today Hegseth. Yes or no.”
Hegesth: “Congressman, you know what a silly question that is.”
Carbajal: “But silly enough to warrant a very straightforward answer, yes or no?”
Hegesth: “We all support and defend the Constitution of the United States — ”
Carbajal: “You know what, I’m not going to waste my time anymore. You’re not worthy of my attention or my questions. You’re an embarrassment to this country. You’re unfit to lead. And there’s been bipartisan members of Congress that have called for your resignation. You should just get the hell out and let somebody competently lead this department.”
At the end of Carbajal’s questioning of Heseth, someone criticized his comments as a “disruption” and “absolutely horrible.”
“Mr. Chairman, do we not have any decorum in here?” someone asks off camera.
Carbajal thanked the committee and yielded the rest of his time.
This story was originally published June 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM.
