Rep. Salud Carbajal calls Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “an embarrassment” and demands his resignation during a tense House hearing.

Fierce Confrontation Over Trump Loyalty and Military Budget

A heated exchange erupted on Capitol Hill Thursday as Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he is “an embarrassment to this country” and should “get the hell out” of the Department of Defense. The clash took place during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.

The confrontation began as Carbajal questioned Hegseth on the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to anti-ICE protests. Carbajal pressed Hegseth with a series of yes-or-no questions, including whether the military had been ordered to protect property by any means necessary.

“Let’s call it for what it is. It’s political theater,” Carbajal asserted. “Are the Marines in Los Angeles ordered to protect property by any means necessary?”

Hegseth responded, “Sir, I would say the ICE officers and police officers being attacked is not political theater,” prompting Carbajal to interrupt and insist on a yes-or-no answer. “Just yes or no. This isn’t Fox anymore,” he said.

When Hegseth replied that the National Guard and Marines have full authority to protect federal ICE agents, Carbajal again demanded a concise answer. “Kindergartners can give me a yes or no,” he added, before shifting to a more pointed question: “Do you think political allegiance to Trump is a requirement for serving our nation?”

Hegseth called the question “silly,” prompting Carbajal’s harsh rebuke. “You’re not worthy of my attention or my questions. You’re unfit to lead,” Carbajal said. “There’s been bipartisan members of Congress that have called for your resignation. You should just get the hell out.”

Hegseth Defends Budget and Trump’s Leadership

Earlier in the hearing, Hegseth defended the administration’s $961 billion defense budget request, part of a national security package exceeding $1 trillion. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this budget puts America first and gives our warriors what they need,” he said.

Hegseth emphasized restoring what he called a “warrior ethos,” citing Trump’s directive to focus on “war fighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards and readiness.” He criticized previous administrations for underinvestment and praised current efforts for boosting military recruitment and retention.

He also declared that “DEI is dead,” replacing it with a “colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based approach.” According to Hegseth, this shift has been well received by service members who appreciate the renewed focus on standards and mission-readiness.

On international defense spending, Hegseth stated that while some U.S. allies are stepping up, others must increase their commitments. He urged NATO members to pledge 5% of GDP toward defense at the upcoming NATO heads of state meeting, crediting Trump for leading that effort in both his first and current administrations.

The confrontation between Carbajal and Hegseth underscored deep partisan divisions in defense policy, particularly regarding the perceived politicization of the military and the administration’s “America First” doctrine. The fallout from the exchange is likely to echo through upcoming budget debates and oversight hearings.