Diyar Guldogan
09 April 2026•Update: 09 April 2026
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday for his handling of the Iran war.
During remarks in New York City, Jeffries called Hegseth "the most unqualified secretary of defense in American history."
He questioned Hegseth’s background and leadership abilities, pointing to his prior role as a television personality on Fox News.
"This guy can't organize a two-car funeral. He was a Fox News host, and now he is the secretary of defense? No wonder things are turning out so horrifically over in the Middle East," he said.
Jeffries pointed to the recent firings of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi by President Donald Trump.
"We got a hater in the White House … Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is gone, and Pete Hegseth is next up," he said.
Jeffries went on to accuse Trump of mismanaging national priorities, particularly in relation to domestic economic concerns and foreign policy in the Middle East.
"This president has failed the American people in so many different ways. Refuses to spend a dime to make life more affordable for you but is spending billions of dollars to drop bombs in a reckless war of choice in the Middle East," he said.