In a fiery exchange that has dominated headlines and social media, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), a former Marine Corps veteran, confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a tense House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The June 12, 2025, session erupted when Carbajal, leveraging his combat experience in Iraq, accused Hegseth of incompetence, law-breaking, and endangering national security—culminating in the now-viral declaration: “You’re an embarrassment to the United States” followed by “You should just get the hell out and let somebody competently lead this department.”

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Rep. Carbajal’s In-Person Town Hall in Santa Barbara to Be Held …

The California Democrat, who served 12 years in the Marine Reserves including a 2005 deployment to Iraq, opened with a barrage of yes-or-no questions. He pressed Hegseth on whether he would honor court rulings challenging the deployment of U.S. Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests, and if allegiance to President Trump overrode constitutional oaths in military leadership. Hegseth repeatedly sidestepped, invoking classification concerns or redirecting to policy overviews, which Carbajal branded as evasive.

Frustration peaked as Carbajal referenced ongoing controversies: Hegseth’s alleged use of an unsecure Signal group chat (“Signalgate”) to share sensitive details about U.S. military operations in Yemen against Houthi militants—a practice a later Pentagon inspector general report (December 2025) concluded risked endangering troops and violated DoD policies on personal devices for official business. Carbajal also highlighted the LA deployments, costing an estimated $134 million, and Hegseth’s perceived sympathetic or ambiguous stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“You’re an embarrassment to this country. You’re unfit to lead,” Carbajal stated bluntly, his voice rising in the Rayburn House Office Building hearing room. “I have called for your resignation. I didn’t think you were qualified before your confirmation, and you have done nothing to inspire confidence.” He accused the secretary of breaking laws on classified handling and failing to uphold accountable leadership—core values for any defense chief.

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Hegseth faces Democrats in Congress for first time since Signal …

Hegseth, testifying alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, maintained composure but offered limited direct responses during the exchange. He later dismissed much of the criticism as partisan, emphasizing his commitment to the commander-in-chief and readiness to “take the arrows” for tough decisions. Republican committee members intervened, calling for decorum and apologizing to Hegseth for what they termed “flagrant disrespect.”

The moment exploded online: C-SPAN footage and clips shared on YouTube, X, and Facebook amassed millions of views, with headlines like “‘Get the Hell Out!’: Marine Vet Annihilates Hegseth” and “Brutal Takedown Shakes D.C.” fueling debates. Democrats amplified it as proof of Pentagon dysfunction under the Trump administration, while supporters viewed Carbajal’s outburst as grandstanding against a secretary focused on decisive action.

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Democratic senators hammer Hegseth as he trades barbs with them …

Carbajal’s military credentials added gravitas. A consistent advocate for veterans and accountability on the Armed Services Committee, he has led efforts like a March 2025 letter from 69 House Democrats demanding probes into sensitive information handling. The hearing underscored broader tensions: domestic use of military forces, potential politicization of the Pentagon, and fallout from Hegseth’s confirmation amid personal allegations (which he denied) and his Fox News background.

As of January 2026, Hegseth remains in post despite the viral clash and watchdog findings. No resignation has occurred, though Democrats push for further investigations into Signal use and deployments. The episode remains a flashpoint in ongoing battles over military impartiality, executive loyalty, and congressional oversight.

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For many observers, Carbajal’s unfiltered rebuke—rooted in a veteran’s sense of duty—symbolizes a rare break from protocol when stakes involve troop safety and constitutional principles. Whether it marks a career-defining low for Hegseth or just another partisan skirmish, the “get the hell out” line continues to echo as one of the most charged congressional moments of recent years.