Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona discussed the Iran military conflict Friday on the MS NOW program Deadline. He said Pete Hegseth directs the effort and blamed that leadership for a failed campaign that cost the armed forces a share of its coming commanders.

Kelly said Hegseth dismisses staff he considers inadequately devoted to himself and the president, dismisses women on account of sex, and dismisses Black admirals and generals on account of race. Kelly said Hegseth emphasizes visual presentation, including for an upcoming address, and hides how many troops have died defending the country.

Kelly said voters who chose a former reality-television personality cause officials to treat combat as staged entertainment, and that removing journalists from the White House when coverage displeases them is how democratic government begins to unravel.