Pete Hegseth lashed out at "defeatist Democrats" for "clouding the minds of the American people" in their attitudes to the war in Iran.
The Defense Secretary was grilled during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday (30 April).
Asked by Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat of Connecticut, if he agreed with Donald Trump's assessment that Ukraine had been “militarily defeated."
Hegseth went on to hit out at Democrats for the negative characterisation of the war in Iran and for its impact on Americans.
“The negative nature in which you characterized the incredible and historic effort in Iran is part of the reason, senator, why the American people view it the way they do,” Hegseth said.
Read MoreHegseth questioned about Trump’s mental stability
Hegseth challenged over seemingly contradictory claims on Iran nukes
Hegseth: US military should win Nobel Peace Prize every year