“Get the Hell Out”: Marine Veteran Dismantles SecDef Hegseth in Explosive “Unwatchable” Congressional Showdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a moment that has already been branded as “almost unwatchable” due to its raw intensity and brutal candor, the halls of Congress witnessed one of the most blistering confrontations in recent memory this week. Representative Salud Carbajal, a California Democrat and Marine Corps veteran, launched a scathing, systematic verbal assault on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, culminating in a demand for the Secretary’s resignation and the unprecedented label of being an “embarrassment to the United States.”
The hearing, ostensibly called to discuss the deployment of National Guard and Marine forces to Los Angeles, quickly devolved into a referendum on Hegseth’s competence, his past as a Fox News host, and serious allegations regarding the mishandling of classified information. For nearly six minutes, the committee room was thick with tension as Carbajal refused to accept what he termed “BS answers,” demanding simple “yes or no” responses that the Defense Secretary struggled to provide.
“This Isn’t Fox Anymore”
The dynamic of the exchange was established immediately. Carbajal, drawing on his own service history, framed the presence of Marines in Los Angeles not as a security measure, but as “political theater.”
“I served in the Marine Corps,” Carbajal stated, his voice steady but laced with rising anger. “We are trained to be war fighters, not for crowd control. Everyone here should be alarmed that the President has sent armed forces into a city against the wishes of a governor and mayor.”
When Hegseth attempted to pivot to a talking point about protecting ICE and police officers, Carbajal cut him off with a line that set the tone for the rest of the interrogation.
“Can you just say yes or no? This isn’t Fox anymore,” Carbajal snapped, referencing Hegseth’s previous career as a television pundit. It was a direct attack on the Secretary’s credibility, implying that his answers were more suited for cable news rhetoric than the serious accountability required of the Pentagon’s top official.
The Congressman’s frustration was palpable as he grilled Hegseth on the Standing Rules for the Use of Force (SRUF). “Are Marines allowed to fire warning shots?” Carbajal asked. After Hegseth admitted the answer was “no,” Carbajal retorted, “Now that’s more like it. Isn’t that easy?”
The Signal App Scandal: Accusations of Broken Laws
Perhaps the most damaging portion of the hearing came when Carbajal pivoted from policy disputes to personal conduct and legal liability. The Congressman levied a specific and serious accusation against Hegseth regarding the mishandling of sensitive national security data.
“Will you take responsibility for having made a mistake, not to mention many people would say break the law, in participating in the Signal group chat that included a journalist, your wife, your brother, where classified information was shared?” Carbajal asked.
The room fell silent as the gravity of the charge landed. The idea that the Secretary of Defense might be sharing classified intelligence on an encrypted messaging app with family members and members of the press strikes at the heart of operational security.
Hegseth attempted to deflect, stating, “Sir, every way I communicate is authorized.”
Carbajal was having none of it. He steamrolled over the defense, asserting that Hegseth had “done nothing to inspire confidence” and had “endangered the lives of our service members.” The Congressman’s verdict was harsh and unequivocal: “Your inability to hold yourself accountable makes you incapable to lead.”
The “Kindergartner” Standard: Ukraine and NATO
As the questioning turned to foreign policy, the exchange grew even more heated. Carbajal pressed Hegseth on two critical pillars of current U.S. foreign policy: support for Ukraine and adherence to Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
When asked if the U.S. should continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, Hegseth defaulted to a vague statement about President Trump being “committed to peace.”
Carbajal’s patience visibly evaporated. “I just want yes or no answers today… Can I get a yes or no out of you? Come on. Kindergartners can give me a yes or no.”
The infantalizing comparison underscored the Congressman’s view that the Secretary was dodging basic responsibilities. Eventually, Hegseth conceded, “Yes, we support peace in Ukraine,” a response that still failed to directly address the continuation of military aid, but satisfied the “yes or no” demand enough for Carbajal to move on.
The discussion on NATO was equally contentious. When asked if he would recommend fulfilling Article 5 obligations—the principle that an attack on one NATO ally is an attack on all—if Russia invaded an ally, Hegseth initially tried to argue that Russia “has not invaded NATO allies.”
“I reclaim my time,” Carbajal shouted, cutting off the evasion. “It’s that simple… is the answer yes or no?”
When Hegseth finally admitted, “That’s what Article 5 is, yes,” Carbajal offered a sarcastic commendation: “Good, I’m glad you brought yourself to saying yes.”
“You’re an Embarrassment”
The crescendo of the hearing arrived in its final minute. Having dismantled Hegseth’s defenses on policy, security, and international relations, Carbajal delivered a closing statement that will likely be replayed in political ads and news segments for months.
“Do you think political allegiance to Trump is a requirement for serving our nation?” Carbajal asked.
Hegseth called it a “silly question,” prompting Carbajal to unleash his final verdict.
“I’m not going to waste my time anymore,” Carbajal declared, looking directly at the Secretary of Defense. “You’re not worthy of my attention or my questions. You’re an embarrassment to this country. You’re unfit to lead.”
The vitriol didn’t stop there. In a breach of typical congressional decorum that drew immediate rebuke from the chair, Carbajal concluded, “You should just get the hell out and let somebody competently lead this department.”
The Aftermath: A Breach of Decorum?
As Carbajal yielded his time, the committee chairman immediately intervened, urging members to “maintain the decorum suitable for this chamber.” But the damage was done. The video of the exchange has since gone viral, viewed by millions who are witnessing what many analysts are calling a total breakdown of respect between the legislative branch and the civilian leadership of the military.
Critics of the administration are seizing on the moment as proof that Hegseth is out of his depth, citing his inability to answer straightforward questions without pivoting to political rhetoric. Supporters, meanwhile, may view Carbajal’s aggression as partisan grandstanding.
However, the substance of the exchange reveals a deeper fracture. The specific allegations regarding the “Signal group chat” leak remain unaddressed by the Pentagon in any detailed capacity, and the ambiguity surrounding the administration’s stance on NATO and Ukraine continues to cause anxiety among U.S. allies.
For a few minutes in Washington, the polite veneer of governance was stripped away. What remained was a Marine veteran staring down the Secretary of Defense, refusing to blink, and saying what he believed the country needed to hear: that the current leadership is not just flawed, but dangerous.
As the dust settles, the question remains: Will Pete Hegseth address the specific legal and ethical challenges raised by Rep. Carbajal, or will this “unwatchable” hearing become the defining moment of his tenure?
