{"id":2633365,"date":"2026-07-21T20:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-offers-sen-gary-peters-ticket-out-to-centcom-in-heated-exchange\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T20:11:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:11:04","slug":"hegseth-offers-sen-gary-peters-ticket-out-to-centcom-in-heated-exchange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-offers-sen-gary-peters-ticket-out-to-centcom-in-heated-exchange\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth offers Sen. Gary Peters &#8216;ticket out to CENTCOM&#8217; in heated exchange"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhegseth-offers-sen-gary-peters-ticket-out-to-centcom-in-heated-exchange%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2633365&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>war Secretary pete Hegseth suggested that senator Gary Peters visit U.S. Central Command to witness the efforts of American troops after Peters labeled the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the Iran war as \u201can utter and complete failure.\u201d This exchange occurred during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing discussing a $67 billion budget request for military operations in Iran. Peters criticized the ongoing conflict,citing its negative impacts on the U.S. economy and troop casualties, and questioned the strategy and its effectiveness, accusing leadership of failing to achieve clear objectives, especially regarding Iran\u2019s nuclear capabilities. Hegseth defended the military\u2019s efforts, emphasizing the sacrifice of service members and rejecting the notion of failure. The dispute highlighted differing views on the war\u2019s progress, leadership, and funding, with Peters calling for better long-term strategy and Hegseth urging political courage in supporting military efforts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">War Secretary<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\"> Pete Hegseth<\/a> suggested Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gary-peters\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1182\">Gary Peters<\/a> (D-MI) make a visit to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/u-s-central-command\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4470\">U.S. Central Command<\/a> to speak with troops after the outgoing senator called the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>\u2018s war with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> \u201can utter and complete failure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exchange unfolded during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in which Hegseth and Gen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dan-caine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11774\">Dan Caine<\/a>, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, fielded questions about the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-defense\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"335\">Department of War<\/a>\u2018s $67 billion supplemental budget request, a large portion of which is intended to fund military operations in Iran.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4658095\/hegseth-gary-peters-iran-war-senate-hearing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Hegseth offers Gary Peters \u2018ticket out to CENTCOM\u2019 after senator rips Iran war \u2018failure\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4657933\/zelensky-sack-ukraine-commander-oleksandr-syrsky-military-commanders-lined-up\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Zelensky sacks Ukrainian Commander in Chief Syrsky in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zelensky-sacks-ukrainian-commander-in-chief-syrsky-in-major-military-shake-up\/\" title=\"Zelensky sacks Ukrainian Commander in Chief Syrsky in major military shake-up\">major military shake-<\/a>up<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4657796\/updated-estimated-cost-iran-war-pete-hegseth\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Updated estimated cost of Iran war is $37.5 billion: Hegseth<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peters was given the floor and laid out a list of grievances about Hegseth and President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\"> Donald Trump<\/a> claiming the war was \u201cover\u201d on several occasions, detailing the effects it has had on the U.S. economy and the loss of American troops\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re asking the American people for a blank check because, once again, the Trump administration\u2019s efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point. So my question for you, sir, is: How is your strategy different than what we\u2019ve seen in the past?\u201d Peters asked, adding that destroying Iran\u2019s nuclear capabilities, the administration\u2019s main goal in the conflict, has not been \u201cdealt with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hegseth sharply rebuked Peters\u2019s use of the word \u201cfailure\u201d to describe the U.S. military\u2019s actions in Iran, saying it undermines the sacrifice of service members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cShame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure, and then you want to turn around and say you support the warfighter. \u2026 Is the nuclear material still there? I can get you a ticket out to CENTCOM and talk to what those Americans are doing, how committed they are to this effort, and how they want to ensure that Iran never threatens their families with a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Peters then attempted to clarify that he was calling the Trump administration\u2019s efforts a failure, not the actions by U.S. troops. Hegseth said he heard the word \u201cexactly\u201d as Peters used it, but Peters said he used the word in reference to those leading American troops.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou, sir, are the failure, not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction,\u201d Peters said, reaching over the dais, pointing his finger at Hegseth. \u201cBut if there\u2019s a lack of a winning strategy, they\u2019re in harm\u2019s way. Their leaders have failed them, and that\u2019s what\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have a strategy,\u201d Peters continued. \u201cYou don\u2019t have a long-term plan to actually win this war. Win the war. The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they need to have leadership. When will you show leadership?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hegseth fired back, proposing Peters speak with his fellow Democrats \u201cwho stand and play partisan politics\u201d instead of approving funds for military operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4657796\/updated-estimated-cost-iran-war-pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4657796\/updated-estimated-cost-iran-war-pete-hegseth\/\">UPDATED ESTIMATED COST OF IRAN WAR IS $37.5 BILLION: HEGSETH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy don\u2019t you give us the money?\u201d the department head said. \u201cYou want to stand up here and talk about the troops? You won\u2019t show any political courage to actually fund our department because you have Trump derangement syndrome and can\u2019t actually commit to anything meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The senator from Michigan then said he was not questioning the fiscal request but instead trying to understand Hegseth\u2019s approach to the war and questioning what he views as a lack of leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth invites Peters to CENTCOM after Iran war criticism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2633366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26202804946816.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[21902,45173,5894,3740],"class_list":["post-2633365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-centcom","tag-hegseth","tag-politics","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26202804946816.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633365"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633369,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633365\/revisions\/2633369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}