“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth unloaded a preemptive attack on congressional critics of the Iran war on Wednesday, shortly before the Pentagon revealed that the two-month-long Operation Epic Fury has cost an estimated $25 billion.”

“The biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of congressional Democrats and some Republicans two months in,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks to the House Armed Services Committee.”

“Lest I remind you, and my generation understands, how long we were in Iraq, how long we were in Afghanistan, how long we were in Vietnam. [We are] two months in on an existential fight for the safety of the American people. Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb.”

“Hegseth called Trump the “best negotiator in the world” before taking questions from lawmakers and engaging in fiery clashes with Democrats on the panel.”

“Ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) mocked Trump’s claims that Iran has given into his core war demands — only for Tehran to publicly deny it — saying the commander in chief appeared to be relying on “Jedi mind tricks” to make Iran end its nuclear ambitions.”

“Hegseth slammed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the official term for the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal — and argued “you have to stare down this kind of enemy who’s hell-bent on getting a nuclear weapon and get them to a point where they’re at the table, giving it up.””