'Not complicated': Morning Joe smacks down Pete Hegseth for 'nonsense' Ukraine comment
Pete Hegseth on Fox News (MSNBC screenshot)

Following a weekend of Donald Trump administration officials taking extreme measures to avoid saying Russia is to blame for the war in Ukraine, the panel on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for mealy-mouthed side-stepping of the issue during an appearance on Fox News.

After sharing a super clip of key Trump officials ignoring direct questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch an illegal invasion into their neighbor's territory, co-host Scarborough led the Hegseth put down.

When pressed on Fox, Hegseth who touted his background as a non-apologetic "warfighter" to land the Pentagon job, suddenly went soft.

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Asked if it was reasonable to state that Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation in 2022, the former Fox host offered that is “fair to say it’s a very complicated situation.”

That brought down the wrath of Scarborough and Financial Times journalist Ed Luce.

"I must say the, not the most surprising unfortunately, let's just say the most curious from somebody that talks about a 'warrior spirit' in the military, hearing our secretary of defense saying, 'Well, there are many complicated questions about who started the war three years ago,'" Scarborough said.

"It is not complicated," he continued. "It is not complicated who began the war with their invasion into Ukraine, trying to get to Kyiv within three days. It's not complicated if you read the Wall Street Journal editorial page, it's not complicated even if you read the New York Post. Vladimir Putin is the tyrant. Vladimir Putin is the dictator, Vladimir Putin is the invader according to the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal editorial page and most Republicans in the United States Senate and House!"

Regular "Morning Joe" panelist Ed Luce later interjected, "It's Orwellian and it diminishes the United States to hear this kind of nonsense."

You can watch below or at the link.

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