At a press briefing, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Pete Hegseth "the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history" and said he has wanted him gone since spring 2025. He said "the national nightmare" of Hegseth could end this week if President Trump decides on his own to terminate him.
The receipt
- Who
- Hakeem Jeffries
- Where
- briefing - House Democratic Leader press briefing, Washington DC
- Original footage
- Reuters · watch the full video from this moment
- Length
- 54 seconds, unedited within the cut
Read the transcript
I have made clear since the spring of 2025 that Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history, has got to go. In my view, as I communicated directly Hopefully to President Trump last spring of 2025, he should fire Pete Hexeth. The fact that Pete Hexeth is still around makes zero sense to a whole lot of people in this country. And hopefully this can come to an end. The national nightmare that has been Pete Hexeth can end this week if the President does it make the decision on his own to terminate him?
Machine transcript of the clip's audio; names are checked, small words may differ.