Duckworth: Troops "not needed" in Chicago

Well, that is counter their messaging at least. But on the messaging around the military, I want to ask you about what happened at Quantico. And just so our viewers are clear, you serve on armed services, but you retired from the National Guard. You were a lieutenant colonel? 23 years. Proud of it.

Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq. You served in combat. Secretary Hegseth told senior military leaders just a few days ago he doesn't want to prevent women from serving, but he's now going to require everyone meet the male standard. Let's listen to that. When it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral. If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result. How did you hear those remarks? And how do you think female service people heard them? Well, this is the least qualified secretary of Defense in our nation's history. And he's questioning the ability of the women who are actually qualified to do their jobs. The female rangers, the female that graduated from SEAL school have met those highest standards. And by the way, he is obfuscating a little bit because there are different male standards. The standard for a 45-year-old man is not the same as an 18-year-old man. So he doesn't actually talk about that. He has long sought to push women out of the military. And frankly, our military could not do its job of protecting America and keeping us safe without the women who serve in the military. If you look at some lessons we learned in Afghanistan, for example, the Lionesses, the Marine Corps group of women who actually went on patrol, all-female units that actually was able to get intelligence from women, Afghani women, to get information on the enemy. Frankly, you've got the least qualified secretary of Defense in the nation's history, who wastes taxpayer dollars on a regular basis doing things like bringing in general and flag officers to be an audience for his dog and pony show, using them as little toy soldiers, when they should be out there at their units, in command, doing their jobs. Senator, thank you for your time and for your insight. We'll be back in a moment.