Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered an epic response to a round of intense questioning from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee as he defended the rising cost of the war effort in Iran. Khanna stated that the total cost of Operation Epic Fury was likely to hit well over the $25 billion figure that the Pentagon’s comptroller provided at the beginning of the hearing.
“Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of Iran?” Khanna asked Hegseth. The secretary of war immediately called it a “gotcha” question, firing back at Khanna, “What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb?” The California Democrat then cited estimates saying the war could cost $631 billion to the U.S. economy.
That equals about $5,000 per household. “Will you acknowledge that there is an economic cost to the American people for doing what you believe is necessary to make Iran denuclear?” Khanna asked the secretary. “We have an incredible economic team that’s managing this better than what the previous administration,” Hegseth tried to say, before Khanna interrupted him.
“You don’t know what we paid in terms of the missiles that hit the Iranian school. You don’t know what we’re paying in terms of gas. You don’t know what we’re paying in terms of food. Your $25 billion number is totally off,” the congressman stated. The stranglehold that Iran has managed to maintain on the Strait of Hormuz has caused the price of gas to skyrocket to around $4.18 per gallon, the highest it has been since the war started, according to The Hill.
Khanna then shifted a bit and asked Hegseth questions related to the specifics of Iran’s nuclear enrichment, noting that the Middle Eastern country had a lot less enriched uranium when Trump pulled out of the Obama nuclear deal than it does currently. “Do you know how much the enriched uranium was after you ripped up the JCPOA?” Khanna asked, referring to the deal.
Hegseth didn’t bite, ignoring the question and slamming the high price of gas in Khanna’s state, placing the blame for it on the “horrible policies” pursued by Democrats. Khanna then took a shot at President Donald Trump, claiming both he and Hegseth had lost credibility with the MAGA base for not fulfilling promises to lower prices and stay out of “bad wars.”
“You know what? I’m sad. I’m sad for all the people who voted for Trump, I’m sad for them, because you betrayed them. You betrayed a lot of that MAGA base,” Khanna accused Hegseth. “And you know who knows that? JD Vance knows that.” The comment about Vance was a reference to a report released earlier in the week that claimed the vice president believes the Pentagon is not being completely upfront about the costs and damages incurred during the war.
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It’s also been claimed by media outlets like the New York Times that Vance has been the most skeptical member of the Cabinet concerning the Middle Eastern conflict. The Trump administration is currently hoping that a blockade placed on Iran’s energy exports will apply enough pressure to the regime to get them to engage in peace talks.