'Speaks volumes': Reporter flags 'most telling thing' about Hegseth Senate fight

MSNBC's Jonathan Lemire claimed Thursday that what Defense secretary Pete Hegseth didn't say during a testy exchange with Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) told him everything he needed to know.

Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday where he sparred with Slotkin when she asked if he has given the order for the military to shoot unarmed protesters.

The question came in the wake of President Donald Trump federalizing National Guard troops and sending active-duty Marines to quell the deportation protests in Los Angeles.

"I love the military. I served alongside my whole life, so I'm worried about you tainting it," Slotkin said. "Have you given the order? Have you given the order that they can use lethal force against — I want the answer to be no. Please tell me it's no. Have you given the order?"

Rather than answer, Hegseth shot back, "Senator, I'd be careful what you read in books and believing it. Except for the Bible."

"Morning Joe's" Joe Scarborough seized on Hegseth's non-answer, saying, "Yeah, throwing Jesus under the bus! It's what they do. And they use Jesus as a shield. Like, this administration of all administrations. It's quite something. But, I suppose, he who doesn't deny, admits...the fact that he couldn't simply say 'no' speaks volumes."

Jonathan Lemire added, "I think that was the most telling thing, is what he didn't say there. He just sort of pushed back. The original claim that the senator is referring to was from former Defense secretary Mark Esper, who in his book said that Trump floated the idea of shooting protesters in the legs during the 2020 George Floyd-related protests. And when asked...how he would respond to that order this time around, just decided to obfuscate as opposed to answer the question."