The stark ideological chasm inside the Republican Party was brought to light on Wednesday when Republican senators attacked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Trump administration’s attempt to resolve the war in Ukraine by including Russia.
At a Senate budget hearing, Senator Mitch McConnell spearheaded the criticism; he was one of three Republicans who opposed Hegseth’s nominee. Using the words “America’s reputation is on the line,” the Republican from Kentucky claimed. “Will we stand up for our democratic friends when they’re threatened by totalitarian regimes?”
The session was more confrontational than Tuesday’s House counterpart, and the former Senate majority leader, who now leads the panel that oversees defense budget, issued some of his toughest warnings yet at the top of the Pentagon during it. After escaping relatively unharmed the day before, Hegseth was subjected to questions from both sides regarding President Trump’s plan to resolve the problem.
A rare high-profile glimpse into the growing foreign policy chasm inside the Republican Party was provided by the conversation between McConnell and Hegseth. McConnell expressed an American foreign policy perspective typical of the Reagan administration, while Hegseth expressed the more moderate, America First approach that Trump’s supporters seem to embrace. A headline reading “Russia wins and America loses” would be unacceptable, McConnell said Hegseth. “If we want to keep playing the role that most members of Congress believe we should still play in the world, that’s absolutely crucial.”
The senator asked the head of the Pentagon a number of questions concerning the war that has raged for three years. In response to his question about who was being aggressive, Hegseth stated, “Russia is the aggressor.”
When asked about his preferred side, Hegseth avoided directly answering the issue and instead stated that Trump is devoted to peace. Instead, he condemned the Obama and Biden administrations for their treatment of Russia and the delayed walking assistance, pointing out that Putin invaded Ukraine and took Crimea while both presidents were in office.
“President Trump is strong,” Hegseth stated, adding that Vladimir Putin is aware of this. “A negotiated peace in Ukraine makes America look strong, makes us look like we understand the state of the world,” he said, “because he knows his word matters.”
The question of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would halt his expansion attempts with Ukraine if they were successful was brought up by senior Trump backer Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who questioned Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine. They disagreed about the likelihood.
“I don’t believe he is,” Caine said, before continuing. It “remains to be seen,” according to Hegseth.
“Well, he says he’s not,” Graham lashed back. Everything here is from the 1930s. No longer is it up for debate.
The ranking Democrat on the committee, Delaware Senator Chris Coons, cautioned Hegseth not to pursue a peace agreement “at any cost.”
In addition to criticizing the administration’s budget for failing to include help to Ukraine, he warned against cutting off funding altogether.
“It is deeply troubling that the 2026 request completely cuts off aid to Ukraine,” he expressed his worry. Leaving Ukraine is not an option. We would be severely handicapped strategically if that happened.
While admitting that “plenty of people on both sides” will be dissatisfied with whatever solution, Hegseth justified the administration’s stance by painting a U.S.-negotiated peace as a strength.
He stated that the United States cannot afford to be involved in an indefinite war financed by American taxpayer dollars and waged by Ukrainian forces, as this would allow Russia to keep pouring resources into the conflict.