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Defense Secretary Hegseth Grilled Over Military Orders

6/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In a heated Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled by Sen. Elissa Slotkin over military orders related to protesters. Hegseth firmly denied any authorization for lethal force or detaining unarmed individuals, citing former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's statements on Trump's directives. The atmosphere grew tense as Slotkin challenged Hegseth's answers, highlighting the gravity of ongoing military deployments in Los Angeles.

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Story summary

In a heated Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled by Sen. Elissa Slotkin over military orders related to protesters. Hegseth firmly denied any authorization for lethal force or detaining unarmed individuals, citing former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's statements on Trump's directives. The atmosphere grew tense as Slotkin challenged Hegseth's answers, highlighting the gravity of ongoing military deployments in Los Angeles.