Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got into a testy spat with Democrat Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono on Wednesday as she accused him of unleashing “lethal force” in Los Angeles, California.
Hirono accused President Donald Trump’s administration of “escalating tensions” by deploying the National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to mitigate the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots that broke out. Hegseth repeatedly rejected the premise of the senator’s questioning on the Los Angeles riots and the hypothetical mistreatment of peaceful protesters, stating during the Senate Armed Service Committee hearing that he would not fall for her attempted smears against Trump.
“Do you plan to unleash this lethal force against U.S. citizens and civilians in LA and other cities?” Hirono asked.
“Well, senator, I would reject more of the characterization of that statement, including lethality against U.S. cities when all of those National Guardsman and Marines have conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism defending our federal agents. Americans deserve to be able to do their jobs to deport illegal aliens after the previous administration allowed 21 million illegals to cross our border,” Hegseth said.
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Hirono interrupted to demand that Hegseth respond professionally, and then asked if Hegseth would carry out an order to shoot peaceful protesters in the legs if Trump made such an order.
“Senator, as I said before, of course I reject the premise of your question. And the characterization that I would be given or are given unlawful orders, it’s all meant to smear the commander-in-chief and I won’t fall for it,” Hegseth said.
A Clinton-appointed judge ordered Trump to stop deploying members of the California National Guard on Thursday, which a federal appeals court immediately struck down.
Hegseth told Hirono that district courts should not dictate national security policy, causing Hirono to accuse him of not believing that court rulings are “legitimate.”
Rioters have thrown Molotov cocktails and fireworks, set automobiles ablaze and assaulted police officers, prompting the National Guard and Marines to line up on the streets and retaliate against the violence. Officers were seen throwing tear gas and flash bangs during a riot on Sunday in order to keep large groups of rioters and protesters apart.
protesters chant “it is right to rebel, la migra go to hell” while trying to join up with another group. Officers are still shooting gas and flash bangs to keep the two separated @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/XXPuXafoS9
— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) June 15, 2025
DHS confirmed that Emiliano Garduno-Galvez, a previously deported Mexican national, is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at ICE agents on June 7.
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