Rudy Giuliani - America's Mayor Live (927): President Donald Trump Departs for Beijing, China
Aired: 2026-05-12
Duration: 40:47


=== Short Term Inflation Concerns (05:06) ===

[00:00:00]  Thank you for joining us on another edition of America's Mayor Live.
[00:00:06]  Tonight, we're going to take you to the White House lawn.
[00:00:09]  Thank you for joining us on another edition of America's Mayor Live.
[00:00:13]  Earlier today, President Trump with the media.
[00:00:21]  I think he's been relatively good, to be honest with you.
[00:00:24]  You look at the blockade, no problem.
[00:00:27]  They get a lot of their oil from that area.
[00:00:29]  We've had no problem.
[00:00:31]  He's been a friend of mine.
[00:00:32]  He's been somebody that we get along with.
[00:00:36]  And I think you're going to see that good things are going to happen.
[00:00:39]  This is going to be a very exciting trip.
[00:00:41]  A lot of good things are going to happen.
[00:00:42]  Do you think he needs to intervene at all with the Iranian people?
[00:00:47]  I don't think he does.
[00:00:48]  No, I don't think we need any help with Iran.
[00:00:50]  He said it was at $99.
[00:00:53]  And if you think about it, I would have taken that all day long because it's very simple.
[00:00:58]  Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
[00:01:00]  They will not have a nuclear weapon.
[00:01:02]  They know that.
[00:01:03]  They've agreed to that.
[00:01:05]  And then that's not what they said to me when it came.
[00:01:07]  The golden age of America, frankly.
[00:01:10]  And you're seeing it now.
[00:01:11]  So as soon as this is.
[00:01:13]  Don't forget, you have hundreds of ships that are loaded up with oil that want to come out.
[00:01:18]  As soon as they come out, we're going to have a gusher of oil.
[00:01:21]  And you're going to have inflation that goes way down.
[00:01:24]  Now, with all of this, inflation is much lower than it was under Biden.
[00:01:30]  Biden had the highest inflation in the history of our country.
[00:01:34]  Inflation is nothing by comparison.
[00:01:37]  Our inflation is just short term.
[00:01:40]  Because if you go from before, just before the war, we were for the last three months 1.7%.
[00:01:47]  And now what you have is as soon as this war is over, you're going to see inflation go down to probably 1.5%.
[00:01:55]  Will you extend the wave also?
[00:01:57]  We're going to continue.
[00:02:04]  We're going to continue.
[00:02:07]  And as you know, we have Exxon, we have Chevron.
[00:02:10]  We're dealing with Iran, Mr. President.
[00:02:11]  To what extent are Americans' financial situations motivating you to make it?
[00:02:16]  We'll be coming here toward the end of the year.
[00:02:18]  So that'll be exciting, too.
[00:02:19]  I only wish we had the ballroom finished.
[00:02:22]  The ballroom is right on budget and ahead of schedule.
[00:02:26]  But I wish we had a finish.
[00:02:27]  You're on the gas line.
[00:02:28]  You also may want to have told them from day one you're getting killed on energy.
[00:02:32]  You're windmilling your country to death.
[00:02:35]  Can you ask them to do that?
[00:02:37]  I think it's a great idea.
[00:02:39]  Let's have a discussion.
[00:02:41]  Two questions.
[00:02:42]  So, has there been any understanding between you and Putin that Russia should get entire Donbass?
[00:02:50]  No, no.
[00:02:51]  You have a standing invitation to travel to Russia.
[00:02:55]  Do you think it might happen this year?
[00:02:58]  I will do whatever is necessary.
[00:03:00]  That war, I've settled eight wars.
[00:03:03]  That war is getting closer.
[00:03:05]  Believe it or not, it's getting closer.
[00:03:07]  And we think we're going to end up getting a settlement between Russia and Putin.
[00:03:11]  President, what is the ultimate goal of your trip to China?
[00:03:16]  I think more than anything else, we have a massive relationship with China.
[00:03:20]  We're the two superpowers.
[00:03:23]  We're the strongest nation on earth in terms of military.
[00:03:26]  China's considered.
[00:03:28]  The only thing that matters to you when it comes to Iran is a nuclear weapon.
[00:03:31]  You're not considering the financial impact of this war on Americans.
[00:03:36]  The most important thing by far, including whether our stock market.
[00:03:41]  Which, by the way, is at an all-time high.
[00:03:44]  But including whether or not our stock market goes up or down a little bit, the most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
[00:03:54]  What about the pressure on Americans and prices right now?
[00:03:57]  Every American understands.
[00:04:01]  Every American, are you listening to me?
[00:04:04]  Every American understands, and they just had a poll, like 85%, which is surprising.
[00:04:11]  It's only that they understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
[00:04:15]  If Iran has a nuclear weapon, the whole world would be in trouble because they happen to be crazy.
[00:04:21]  They're not going to have a nuclear weapon.
[00:04:23]  Now, if the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand it.
[00:04:29]  When it's over, You're going to have a massive drop in the price of oil, which a lot of people thought would be higher.
[00:04:35]  And I mean, it was $199 yesterday, which is low, which is relatively low.
[00:04:41]  When this war is over, oil is going to drop.
[00:04:44]  The stock market's going to go through the roof.
[00:04:47]  And I mean, it was $199 yesterday, which is low, which is relatively low.
[00:04:54]  When this war is over, oil is going to drop.
[00:04:57]  The stock market's going to go through the roof.
[00:05:00]  And truly, I think we're in the golden age right now.
[00:05:02]  You're going to see a golden age like we've never seen before.

=== Golden Age of Military Power (02:53) ===

[00:05:06]  before.
[00:05:07]  The minute it's announced, and I'll be the one to announce it because I'm the one that makes that decision, I could leave right now and it would take them 25 years to rebuild their country.
[00:05:17]  But I don't want to do that.
[00:05:18]  I want to have it complete and total.
[00:05:20]  So you ready?
[00:05:22]  As soon as this war is over, you're going to see numbers like you've never seen before.
[00:05:27]  I know how much you value loyalty.
[00:05:30]  I know how much you value loyalty.
[00:05:33]  Are you comfortable with people serving in the military if they personally oppose the Iran war?
[00:05:39]  For you?
[00:05:41]  It doesn't mean I'm happy about it, but I live with a lot of different.
[00:05:47]  I have a question on redistricting.
[00:05:50]  To voters who are confused about the changing maps, the changing dates, and to African Americans concerned that this is going to draw black members of Congress off the map.the special sauce of America's military.
[00:06:04]  We face dynamic and dangerous times, but I have incredible trust and confidence.
[00:06:10]  In the Joint Force today.
[00:06:12]  I'm deeply grateful for those deployed members of the Joint Force that are out there right now doing our nation's work.
[00:06:18]  And I remain humbled by the gift of the ultimate sacrifice that those fallen have given us, not just for the 40 during my time in this job, but across the history of our great nation and their families who continue to soldier on.
[00:06:33]  Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
[00:06:40]  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, members of the committee.
[00:06:44]  Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of President Trump's historic $1.5 trillion 2027 budget for the Department of War.
[00:06:52]  The President's budget request reflects the urgency of the moment, addressing both the deferred maintenance of longstanding problems as well as positioning our forces for current and future fights.
[00:07:04]  I'm honored to be joined alongside the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Jay Hurst.
[00:07:14]  and if you accept if you approve honored to be joined alongside the chairman of the joint chiefs and jay hurst And if you accept and if you approve this budget, you will, you will complete it in the war crumb of this administration.
[00:07:41]  If I may interject, I ask that we have order in the hearing room so we can proceed.
[00:07:45]  I ask the witnesses to suspend until the room is cleared.
[00:07:50]  It appears it's cleared.
[00:07:52]  Go ahead, Mr. Secretary.
[00:07:54]  Thank you.
[00:07:54]  I'd like to start by thanking this committee and Congress for your partnership in securing the investments needed.

=== Securing Global Investments (11:34) ===

[00:08:00]  To maintain the most powerful military in the world.
[00:08:03]  Our nation's ability to build, to innovate, and support the critical needs of warfighters at speed and at scale is the foundation upon which our survival rests.
[00:08:12]  When President Trump took office, he inherited a defense industrial base that had been hollowed out by years of America's last policies, resulting in a diminished capacity to project strength, offshoring, outsourcing, cost overruns, and degraded capabilities.
[00:08:28]  Under the leadership of President, the most capable military in the most complex of environments.
[00:08:35]  Not to mention, however, that this budget also includes a historic troop pay increase, 7%, that builds on the pay increases that Congress has given in previous years.
[00:08:44]  And the budget eliminates all poor or failing barracks.
[00:08:47]  Quality of life for our troops is front and center in this budget.
[00:08:52]  By supercharging our industrial capacity and transforming how the Department does business, we are restoring American commercial dominance at a pace unseen in generations, transforming the defense industrial base from the broken, slow-moving systems of the past.
[00:09:09]  We have flipped Pentagon acquisition processes from a bureaucratic model to a business model, decisively moving from an acquisitions environment paralyzed by bureaucratic red tape to an outcome-driven organization focused on delivering the most for taxpayers.
[00:09:26]  Over the past year, through historic multi-year procurement agreements, smart business deals, we have sent an unambiguous demand signal to our industry partners, large and small, to build more and build faster.
[00:09:41]  The result has been a surge, a revitalization of our unambiguous demand signal to our industry partners, large and small, to build more and build faster.
[00:09:53]  The result has been a surge, a revitalization of our great American factories and a massive reinvestment in the skilled American workers who serve as the industrial muscle behind our warriors.
[00:10:05]  I'll provide a brief overview of what's been accomplished on that front in just a few months.
[00:10:11]  These are announced new facilities and investments in support of American warfighters.
[00:10:16]  The department has helped stimulate more than 250 private investment deals in 39 states and 180 cities and 150 companies, not just the big primes, worth more than $50 billion.
[00:10:29]  This has resulted in 280 new or expanded facilities and more than 18 million new square feet of American manufacturing, 70,000 new jobs.
[00:10:40]  These $50 billion in investments.
[00:10:42]  In new plants, new assembly lines, and new factories are private investments, not taxpayer dollars.
[00:10:50]  By completely transforming our department's business model, American companies, private companies, are investing in their own factories with the survivability of our fighting forces from the front lines to the factory floor.
[00:11:04]  We truly believe this is a historic budget.
[00:11:07]  And at every level, we have made it a fiscally responsible budget.
[00:11:12]  This is also a warfighting budget.
[00:11:15]  Under President Trump, we are restoring the unbreakable might of American manufacturing, which has to underwrite everything.
[00:11:21]  We're providing for our warfighters, and we are putting the people and interests of this country first.
[00:11:27]  May Almighty God continue to watch over our troops, and may we honor the legacy of those brave Americans that we've lost.
[00:11:34]  That is our sacred mission, and that's what we'll continue to execute on.
[00:11:39]  Thank you for this opportunity, and we look forward to your questions.
[00:11:46]  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
[00:11:47]  I know we all understand you're going with the President to China.
[00:11:54]  We all agree they're the greatest long term military and economic challenge to the U.S. and our Western allies as well.
[00:12:06]  Of course, Taiwan, Japan, and Philippines look to us.
[00:12:14]  It is amplified by burden sharing of partners who recognize the shared threats that we face and are willing to invest alongside us.
[00:12:22]  And some of those things are known to the public.
[00:12:25]  Some of those things are not known to the public.
[00:12:27]  But since the beginning of my time in this job, we've focused in that area of operations to ensure that Admiral Paparo has every option available to include with partners to create all the dilemmas necessary to give America every advantage possible, whether it's freedom of navigation, access basic and overflight, and ultimately put the President in a position where he's going into Beijing in a position of strength, which he will be.
[00:12:54]  So, would you be a little more specific about?
[00:12:58]  Particularly in the South China Sea.
[00:13:03]  I think what you've seen from this administration is a commitment to freedom of navigation.
[00:13:08]  Take, for example, the BAM and the Houthis, which under the Biden administration, they allowed American ships to get shot at without consequence.
[00:13:17]  And President.
[00:13:19]  Do you support or oppose senior officials traveling there?
[00:13:25]  We've had, Senator, we've had many senior officials travel there, and we learn a great deal.
[00:13:30]  In fact, I've personally approved additional personnel there to learn from that drone battlefield, both on offense and defense, to ensure that we're learning every possible lesson from that conflict and incorporating it in real time into how we defend and we go on offense in an era where drone dominance is required.
[00:13:48]  And that's why this budget spends so much on drone dominance.
[00:13:52]  Take the lessons learned from Ukraine and other battlefields and ensure we're applying them throughout the fighting force as quickly as possible.
[00:14:00]  I think what's not in dispute is that NATO is the most important military alliance in world history.
[00:14:10]  Nobody's ever pulled something together like this and held it together to prevent the worst for a longer period of time.
[00:14:22]  Basically, it seems to me that a lot of the European countries think that we're reducing our influence there, that they're sort of on their own.
[00:14:35]  global interests.
[00:14:38]  Senator, our vision is to have real, capable allies and partners.
[00:14:45]  I think that's what we saw, we've seen in Epic Fury.
[00:14:48]  Israel's Air Force and their ability, will, and their capability is a demonstration to the world.
[00:14:53]  There are other allies like that, and we need more of them.
[00:14:56]  So flags are not the goal.
[00:14:58]  The number of flags involved in an operation are not the goal.
[00:15:01]  The goal is the number of capable formations.
[00:15:04]  Who can actually fight alongside the American fighting man and woman?
[00:15:07]  So it's not just us all the time.
[00:15:09]  I saw that in Iraq.
[00:15:10]  I saw that in Afghanistan.
[00:15:12]  Our generation has experienced that.
[00:15:14]  This no administration has done more to ensure that our allies and partners realize they need to step up so that we can amplify our capabilities.
[00:15:22]  That's what burden sharing is all about.
[00:15:24]  It's not just we carry the burden for other countries.
[00:15:27]  It's other countries are capable of coming alongside us as well.
[00:15:32]  But I also think Putin's invasion of Ukraine helped get their attention that they need to step up as well.
[00:15:39]  And the president's been very clear about that.
[00:15:42]  So they are headed in the right direction.
[00:15:45]  What I'm worried about is which direction are we headed in.
[00:15:50]  Last week, your staff indicated we will see a spend plan for those funds this week.
[00:15:56]  Will you commit to spending those $400 million for weapons for Ukraine, and when will we receive your department's spend plan?
[00:16:05]  I appreciate that question.
[00:16:07]  The $400 million for European capacity building has been released from the Secretary of War's office, and we'll work with UCOM to make sure they spend it accordingly and properly, which we have all faith that they will.
[00:16:19]  Mr. Secretary, when will this subcommittee get the associated spend plan for the $400 million?
[00:16:27]  Yeah, we will work with your committee to make sure that the spend plan, as allocated, I want to make sure UCOM is fully informed on how they want to spend this.
[00:16:35]  They're the closest to the problem set.
[00:16:37]  And so, working with them to ensure that you have the spend plan will work with you.
[00:16:41]  Mr. Secretary, thank you.
[00:16:42]  But it's May, and this has been the law since January.
[00:16:45]  And you or your representatives have been asked this repeatedly on a bipartisan basis by members of this committee.
[00:16:52]  And I think dragging our feet on this small investment in Ukraine's defense sends exactly the wrong signal to Putin at a time when the contest for freedom has its front lines in Ukraine.
[00:17:06]  For American equipment to provide as they see fit, NATO allocates where it would like to allocate that.
[00:17:11]  It can choose Ukraine if it'd like.
[00:17:13]  That money, when it's paid for, that's where it goes.
[00:17:16]  It goes to those efforts.
[00:17:18]  Well, look, as the chairman raised, and as I will repeat, I view NATO as the most successful mutual defense relationship we've ever had.
[00:17:26]  And your comment about we need not flags but real and capable allies, and the foot dragging on both Pearl and the investments in our Baltic allies and Ukraine causes me real concern.
[00:17:40]  As you know, a bipartisan group of us from the Senate and the House went to Denmark to lay a wreath at the memorial to the 52 Danes who served, fought, and died alongside our troops in Afghanistan.
[00:17:53]  Those were not just flags, those were real warfighters who fought and died at our request in a war that began.
[00:18:01]  By NATO's initiation, a service and sacrifice in Afghanistan.
[00:18:05]  I just think we're sending the wrong signal by the President's announcement of the intention to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
[00:18:14]  Could you help me understand what is the strategic reason for a drawdown of U.S. troops from Western Europe?
[00:18:21]  I would just like to clarify the vast majority of my experience was frustration with the limits of what those troops were able to do because of the political caveats, rules of engagement, and limits that came from their commanders.
[00:18:31]  But you don't doubt our question that about a third.
[00:18:34]  Of all the combat casualties in our war in Afghanistan, were our NATO partners and allies?
[00:18:38]  I would have to go back and check that number, but I take your word for it.
[00:18:41]  Let me just assert that hundreds and hundreds of service members from, as you put it, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as many other of our allies, served, fought, and died alongside us.
[00:18:51]  So I'm just going to simply say, in terms of our reliance on our partnerships, I'll agree with the chairman that at a moment when Russia and China, North Korea and Iran are coming closer together and delivering a bedeviling lethality in this ongoing war in Iran, for which we don't have a clear strategy or clear answers, our better strategy would be to partner more closely with Ukraine,
[00:19:17]  dig in deeper with our real values-based allies, our treaty allies.
[00:19:22]  in the Western Pacific and in Europe, and together find a path out of this rather than berating them and bullying them for not coming along in a war they were not consulted about or briefed on before it began.

=== Budgetary Hostage Situation (15:49) ===

[00:19:34]  I look forward to a second round.
[00:19:36]  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[00:19:39]  Senator, thanks for the question.
[00:19:41]  As always, we have an incredible staff over at the Pentagon and down at U.S. CENTCOM.
[00:19:48]  And we always look at the range of military, Branches and sequels.
[00:19:53]  I won't comment on any particular one because that gets to whatever advice I may or may not have given to the president, and I do that in private.
[00:20:02]  But you should rest assured, as should the American people, that we cover and consider the full range of things all the time in our careful consideration of military actions and the advice andor options that we present to our civilian leaders.
[00:20:20]  It seems to me that there's been a different plan almost daily.
[00:20:26]  With dealing with this problem, which is why I ask.
[00:20:31]  Mr. Secretary, let me start by thanking you for visiting Bath Arm Works in the state of Maine.
[00:20:40]  The workers were very pleased to greet you and hear your encouragement and praise.
[00:20:48]  The Aegis destroyers play such a critical role in our national security from intercepting Iranian missiles to supporting.
[00:20:59]  Combat operations around the globe.
[00:21:03]  While visiting Bath Armworks, you correctly described the DDG destroyers as the workhorse of the fleet and emphasized maxing out on DDGs sends a message to the world.
[00:21:19]  I was also delighted that you noted that Bath built is best built, a slogan of which we're very proud.
[00:21:28]  I fully agree with all those sentiments.
[00:21:32]  That's why I was alarmed to see that this year's budget request only includes funding for just one DDG 51.
[00:21:42]  That's down from two in FY26 and three in FY25.
[00:21:51]  That reduction to a single DDG 51 creates uncertainty for U.S. surface combatant industrial base at a time when BIW is.
[00:22:05]  Demonstrating huge progress in workforce retention, production stability, and faster throughput.
[00:22:16]  So, there needs to be a steady demand signal for DDGs in order to keep the yard operating at all phases from cutting the initial steel to completing the ship.
[00:22:33]  So, I'm puzzled by why only.
[00:22:38]  One DDG is requested and concerned about what that will mean as far as maintaining that workflow.
[00:22:48]  I'm particularly puzzled by the decision in reconciliation to request $1.8 billion for foreign-born surface combatants at the same time that there's the proposed cut for American-built destroyers.
[00:23:10]  Wouldn't providing a demand signal for U.S.-built DDGs from the department Help the industry further increase the speed at which these ships are being produced.
[00:23:25]  And I'm sure when you were at Beth, they probably showed you the chart of the enormous progress that they are making.
[00:23:35]  I appreciate the question, Senator.
[00:23:37]  And it was a great visit, and it's incredible what they do.
[00:23:41]  To both your questions, the answer is shipbuilding capacity.
[00:23:44]  And that's why we invest $65 billion in shipbuilding in our shipyards.
[00:23:49]  Is because the reason for our request of that number is the ability to build them and how quickly.
[00:23:54]  And so as soon as that capacity is increased, which we anticipate this investment will do, then we look forward to ordering DDGs into the future because they are the backbone of our naval fleet.
[00:24:06]  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[00:24:10]  Senator Irwin.
[00:24:11]  Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
[00:24:13]  I associate myself with the remarks of Senator Coons earlier about the 400 million for Ukraine, and I hope that it is allocated quickly.
[00:24:22]  I'd like to ask a similar question about the 200 million in that same appropriation bill that was designated for the Baltic Security Initiative.
[00:24:33]  Has that money been released?
[00:24:37]  If it has not been, it should be.
[00:24:38]  I don't know.
[00:24:38]  Has it been released?
[00:24:40]  Senator, so I believe there was a mistake with how the appropriations bill was written.
[00:24:45]  We're trying to rectify that through a reprogramming action to make sure we have sufficient funds in the DSCA account to execute BSI.
[00:24:52]  It's five months after that bill was signed into law.
[00:24:56]  How long will this take?
[00:24:58]  I think it's contingent on the reprogramming action being approved by the committees of jurisdiction of the Department of War.
[00:25:04]  So you're suggesting it has to go back through Congress for the current appropriation?
[00:25:08]  I need to move money between DSCA accounts to execute BSI.
[00:25:11]  That's right.
[00:25:12]  Well, I can tell you, I would like to work with you to dispatch that money.
[00:25:16]  It is needed for the Baltics and Poland and needed on a timely basis.
[00:25:21]  Absolutely.
[00:25:22]  I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the war in Iran.
[00:25:27]  which you, Mr. Hurst, testified before Congress, has cost us $25 billion, 14 U.S. military personnel tragically killed, and a tenuous ceasefire in place.
[00:25:41]  As I look at the achievements, Iran to date, led now by an even more extreme supreme leader, the global economy is held hostage to the standoff in the Straits of Hormuz, our munitions stockpiles are dangerously depleted, And Iran is no further from a nuclear weapon than before our invasion.
[00:26:03]  General Kane, the President has claimed on several occasions over the past couple of months that the war is over, that the conflict has been concluded.
[00:26:12]  What were the goals of the U.S. conflict in Iran, and have we achieved them?
[00:26:17]  Well, sir, I'm going to be mindful of my need to maintain trust with a variety of stakeholders in the job that I'm in, which includes you, the American people, the Joint Force, and the President.
[00:26:28]  point, only our political and civilian leaders set the national military objectives.
[00:26:33]  Our military objectives have been clear the whole time around targeting Iran's ballistic missile systems, preventing them from threatening U.S. forces in the region, destroying the Iranian Navy, degrading its capacity and capability, and ensuring that they can't rebuild by focusing on their defense industrial base.
[00:26:53]  I'll defer to the Secretary and the President on other strategic objectives, but that's what we've been focused on, sir.
[00:27:01]  Do you feel that the situation in the Straits of Hormuz indicates a victory on our side?
[00:27:09]  Sir, only political leaders decide victory or defeat, and I'll leave it to them to opine on that.
[00:27:17]  They are the ones who invoke or stop the use of military force.
[00:27:21]  Well, let me put it in strictly military terms.
[00:27:24]  Can you explain to the American people who are facing these gasoline and diesel oil prices what is going on in the Straits of Hormuz where Iran, which was attacked by us, Seemingly, as the Straits of Armou is at a standstill with 1,500 tankers waiting for either permission or peaceful circumstances to navigate.
[00:27:45]  Sir, I think it's militarily a case where Iran is choosing to hold the world's economy hostage through their use of military power across their southern flank.
[00:27:57]  And so I would encourage Iran to reconsider that.
[00:28:02]  And I would encourage those allies and partners who have an opportunity to come assist with that.
[00:28:09]  Tactical problem to do so.
[00:28:11]  Could you explain to the American people why, with the fast investment we've made in national defense and military, how Iran, after they've been attacked by us, is still capable of stopping the traffic in the Straits of Hormuz?
[00:28:26]  Well, sir, it's a complex situation out there with a lot of different small boats that are out there and other capabilities.
[00:28:36]  You know, some of this is on the commercial traffickers, some of this is on, again, back.
[00:28:43]  To the main problem, and that's Iran holding the global economy hostage through the straits.
[00:28:50]  I would encourage them to think wisely about their next moves and to take the opportunity to open the straits.
[00:28:56]  They have that choice to make.
[00:28:58]  They certainly do.
[00:28:59]  I guess the question in my mind is as we talk about trillion dollar plus budgets for our military, it appears that a very small budget is holding us hostage in its rates of our moves.
[00:29:11]  Yield, Mr. Chairman.
[00:29:17]  Thank you.
[00:29:18]  I just want to start off with saying that these military operations against Iran have been spectacular.
[00:29:25]  In a matter of months, we have degraded the largest state sponsor of terrorism beyond what I thought was possible, probably more to come.
[00:29:36]  Ms. Secretary, 900 pounds of 60 percent enriched uranium, do we all agree that's what Iran has buried somewhere?
[00:29:49]  In this format, some of that should be classified, so I wouldn't comment on the exact amount of anything.
[00:29:54]  Okay.
[00:29:54]  Well, it's just pretty well known.
[00:29:56]  They brag about it.
[00:29:58]  Is it possible they could have 60% highly enriched uranium without them cheating in the past?
[00:30:05]  We know in every context of what Iran has undertaken, they've lied and cheated.
[00:30:10]  The answer is no.
[00:30:12]  Everything that Obama and Biden did was designed to keep it to a civilian nuclear program.
[00:30:17]  There is no way in hell they can have 60% highly enriched uranium unless they cheat.
[00:30:22]  So everything y'all did failed.
[00:30:25]  And you want to criticize?
[00:30:26]  You failed.
[00:30:27]  You allowed Iran to be a threshold nuclear nation.
[00:30:31]  Everything you did failed.
[00:30:34]  Missiles, Diego Garcia.
[00:30:37]  Did they shoot missiles at Diego Garcia, General Kane, the Iranians?
[00:30:42]  Yes, sir.
[00:30:43]  They shot a few.
[00:30:44]  Under the protocols we had in place, were they supposed to be able to do that?
[00:30:50]  Without reviewing the fine print, I believe the answer is no.
[00:30:54]  No, they weren't.
[00:30:55]  You failed there.
[00:30:57]  You failed to stop Iran from being a nuclear threshold nation.
[00:31:02]  You failed to stop Iran from having missiles that could go thousands of miles.
[00:31:07]  Why should we listen to you?
[00:31:10]  Bottom line here China.
[00:31:14]  Does China buy 90 percent of Iranian oil, Ms. Secretary?
[00:31:20]  China buys a very large percentage of oil.
[00:31:23]  Okay, 90 percent is pretty large.
[00:31:26]  So, does China buy, are they the largest purchaser of Russian oil?
[00:31:33]  I would imagine they're up there, Senator.
[00:31:35]  They are.
[00:31:35]  They're the largest.
[00:31:36]  So, President Trump, when you go to China, realize that the person you're talking to is propping up Russia and Iran.
[00:31:46]  I appreciate what you've done in Iran.
[00:31:48]  I appreciate what you're trying to do to end the Russian Ukraine conflict.
[00:31:52]  Do you agree with me, Mr. Secretary, that of all the countries on the planet, China could have the most influence of ending this war if they chose to?
[00:32:02]  I think the most influence is in President Trump's hands and what he decides to do, and he'll say that's what he's going to do.
[00:32:08]  But ultimately, China has a lot of leverage, you're right.
[00:32:10]  Yeah, they do.
[00:32:10]  What if they stop buying 90 percent of oil from Iran?
[00:32:14]  That's not President Trump.
[00:32:16]  That's up to China.
[00:32:18]  Do you support putting tariffs on China if they continue to buy Russian oil and gas?
[00:32:24]  Tariffs is not my lane, but anything you do to put pressure on people, I usually support.
[00:32:28]  Well, do you believe that when we put pressure on India by a 25 percent tariff for buying Russian oil, they kind of backed off?
[00:32:35]  I would say I've had a front row seat to the efficacy of tariff policy, yes.
[00:32:38]  Yeah, I think it works, guys.
[00:32:40]  And we're on the breakout here in a minute of having a bill that would give the President the ability to tariff the largest purchasers of Russian oil and gas.
[00:32:49]  And I hope he will use it.
[00:32:51]  So I just want to - Pakistan.
[00:32:54]  Are you aware of reports that Pakistan are allowing their bases to be used to park Iranian aircraft, General Kane?
[00:33:06]  Sir, I have seen one report on that.
[00:33:09]  Well, is it accurate?
[00:33:12]  Sir, I think based on the variety of classification matters.
[00:33:17]  Let me just say do you agree, if it is accurate, that is sort of inconsistent with it being a peace mediator?
[00:33:23]  Sir, I wouldn't want to comment on that based on the ongoing negotiations and Pakistan's nuclear war.
[00:33:28]  Secretary Hexteth, if the mediator is allowing reconnaissance aircraft in Iran to be part, In Pakistani air bases, do you think that's consistent with being a fair mediator?
[00:33:43]  Again, I wouldn't want to get in the middle of these negotiations.
[00:33:45]  I want Max Planck to be in the middle of these negotiations.
[00:33:50]  I don't trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.
[00:33:53]  If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate.
[00:34:06]  No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere.
[00:34:10]  So, you know, I appreciate all you have done.
[00:34:12]  I am very supportive of it.
[00:34:14]  But when it comes to Pakistan and China, enough already.
[00:34:17]  Thank you.
[00:34:24]  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
[00:34:25]  Thank you, gentlemen, for being here today.
[00:34:28]  Mr. Secretary, we have been trying to track down the expenditures in the Operation Epic Fury and Operation Freedom now, and we've sent letters and we've got very few responses.
[00:34:44]  We've been sending letters since March 10th.
[00:34:48]  We did understand that it was released that in the first six days, $11.3 billion was spent.
[00:34:56]  And then recently we were told $25 billion was spent.
[00:35:01]  Today I think the number is $29 billion.
[00:35:06]  Can you provide some details as to what consists of that $29 billion?
[00:35:11]  Have we counted everything?
[00:35:16]  Yes, Senator Reed.
[00:35:16]  So I testified this morning to HACD that between the joint staff and the comptroller staff, our operational cost estimate is now $29 billion.

=== Uncovering $29 Billion Costs (02:12) ===

[00:35:24]  A lot of that increase comes from having a refined estimate on repair and placement costs for equipment.
[00:35:30]  Our munitions costs are fairly fixed.
[00:35:32]  We think they're very accurate, and there's some OM costs there as well.
[00:35:35]  We're not making an estimate for MILCON at this time.
[00:35:39]  We don't know what our future posture is going to be.
[00:35:41]  We don't know how those bases would be reconstructed, and we don't know what percentage of our allies and partners will pay for that reconstruction.
[00:35:48]  So you do not consider installations that have been damaged in the conflict, correct?
[00:35:54]  We just don't have a good estimate at this time.
[00:35:56]  So it's not in the $29 billion?
[00:35:59]  That's correct.
[00:36:00]  Expended weapons, are they totally included within the estimate?
[00:36:04]  Yes, to the best of my knowledge, we have a full count of the expended weapons.
[00:36:08]  And weapons transferred to other countries in the region, are they counted in?
[00:36:13]  I would want to double check to make sure we have that accurately.
[00:36:16]  Please.
[00:36:18]  You are coming up and asking for another significant supplemental, et cetera.
[00:36:22]  And before we can, I think, reasonably appropriate additional money, we have to find out how the existing appropriated dollars have been spent.
[00:36:31]  So that is critically important.
[00:36:37]  I know also that the budget asked for another $350 billion in reconciliation.
[00:36:44]  How essential is that to your budget?
[00:36:49]  I would say it's extremely essential to achieve the generational investment that the President is trying to make.
[00:36:54]  But that would be on top.
[00:36:56]  U.S. Army Major Scott Smiley paid a high price serving our nation.
[00:37:01]  Scott was leading his platoon in Iraq when a blast sent shrapnel through his eyes.
[00:37:06]  Leaving him blind and temporarily paralyzed, Scott would become the first blind active duty military officer before medically retiring years later.
[00:37:17]  Thanks to friends like you, the Tunnels of Towers Foundation gave Scott and his family a mortgage free, specially adapted smart home.
[00:37:25]  Show your support for America's heroes now.
[00:37:29]  Donate $11 a month to tunnels of towers at t2t.org.

=== America's Common Sense Roots (03:09) ===

[00:37:37]  Here we are, pretty much at the beginning of the process here at this pristine, I call it a laboratory.
[00:37:44]  It's not like a factory, it's like a hospital.
[00:37:47]  This is the beginning of the process for roasting.
[00:37:51]  Deep grain, very good quality.
[00:37:53]  Most people don't use this quality.
[00:37:56]  We deal with small farmers because they like to know who we're dealing with.
[00:37:59]  They give us the highest quality, all organic, non GMO.
[00:38:05]  You should know all Arabica beans.
[00:38:08]  No robusto, all Arabica.
[00:38:11]  They're going to go into the roaster and it'll get roasted for about 20 minutes or so.
[00:38:24]  Oh, my goodness, look at these.
[00:38:29]  My goodness, they're going to want to specially order these.
[00:38:42]  This is what goes into Rudy's coffee.
[00:38:49]  It's our purpose to bring to bear the principle of common sense and rational discussion to the issues of our day.
[00:38:57]  America was created at a time of great turmoil, tremendous disagreements, anger, hatred.
[00:39:03]  There was a book written in 1776 that guided much of the discipline of thinking that brought to us the discovery of our freedoms, of our God-given freedoms.
[00:39:15]  It was Thomas Paine's Common Sense, written in 1776.
[00:39:19]  One of the first American bestsellers in which Thomas Paine explained, by rational principles, the reason why these small colonies felt the necessity to separate from the Kingdom of Great Britain and the King of England.
[00:39:36]  He explained their inherent desire for liberty, for freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the ability to select the people who govern them.
[00:39:48]  And he explained it in ways that were understandable to all the people.
[00:39:52]  Not just the elite, because the desire for freedom is universal.
[00:39:58]  The desire for freedom adheres in the human mind and it is part of the human soul.
[00:40:05]  This is exactly the time we should consult our history, look at what we've done in the past and see if we can't use it to help us now.
[00:40:15]  We understand that our founders created the greatest country in the history of the world, the greatest democracy, the freest country, a country that has taken more people out of poverty than any country ever.
[00:40:27]  All of us are so fortunate to be Americans.
[00:40:32]  But a great deal of the reason for America's constant ability to self-improve is because we're able to reason, we're able to talk, we're able to analyze.
[00:40:43]  We are able to apply our God-given common sense.