Defense Secretary Hegseth Refutes Sen Hirono Over LA Riots Deployment

At a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense questioning from Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) regarding the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles amid riots. Hirono asked if Hegseth would follow orders to use lethal force against protesters, including hypothetical shoot-to-kill commands, which Hegseth firmly rejected as baseless smears against President Trump. He emphasized that district courts should not dictate national security policy, asserting that such matters belong to the Commander in Chief and the Supreme Court if necessary. The dispute followed a court ruling that temporarily barred troop deployment in California, which a federal appeals court stayed, affirming federal authority over governors like California's Gavin Newsom. The Department of Defense also clarified Hirono's misrepresentation of Hegseth's testimony on following court orders, highlighting historical precedents of presidents federalizing National Guard troops for domestic unrest. Throughout the hearing, Hegseth maintained a firm stance against what he described as performative and partisan attacks by Democrats, especially Hirono, who has repeatedly challenged him with similar lines of questioning.