‘TIK-TOK, GET READY A******’: Ex-Army Major Richard Ojeda Issues BLUNT Warning To Pete Hegseth

My name is Major Retired Richard Ojeda. I served 24 years in the United States military with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and I'm sick and tired of politicians who wrap themselves in the American flag, beat the drums of war, and send somebody else's child off to die. Families in my district watched their loved ones deploy from Fort Bragg, North Carolina believing that they would be home in a couple of weeks. Then came the letter. Their deployment has been extended to an entire year. A year of missed birthdays, missed anniversaries, children growing up without their mom or their dad. A year of nightmares filled with flag-draped coffins. And for what? Donald Trump's ego? Another billion dollars for Raytheon? This administration dragged our sons and daughters into a war with Iran without a clear exit strategy, without a plan for bringing them home, and without answering the most important question, what the hell are we fighting for? Our troops deserve better. Our veterans deserve better. The families who sacrifice everything for this country deserve a hell of a lot better. And I'll be damned if we keep letting politicians send our sons and daughters off to fight wars that they wouldn't have the guts to fight for themselves. These are not chess pieces on Donald Trump's board. They are not pawns. They are not prophets. They are our sons and our daughters. And it's time to bring them home. And for Pete Hegseth, He lucked out, he squeaked through this one. But make no mistake about it, the 120th Congress, he will not be so lucky. Tick tock, get ready asshole, cuz we're coming. He's coming. All right. All right. I'm introduced from California, Mike Thompson, and I ask my colleagues, we're losing this space in a little less than 10 minutes, so keep it to one minute, please. That's a tough one to follow. I'm very proud to be here with these incredible patriots today. I'm proud to serve with some of them, and I'm excited that the new members are here and are going to carry this fight forward. I'm a proud veteran, served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in combat, And I'm a very disappointed and very disgusted American at what this leadership has done today. The biggest cut to veterans programs in history. This is despicable what they have done. And to do it on Veterans Day is even worse. We've got some big problems, and everyone who has spoken has talked about the different types of leadership that Hespeth has shown. Let's be clear, he is not a leader. If I followed him, it would be out of blind ignorance and blind curiosity as to where he's going. He has not charted a good course. He's put our service members in jeopardy, and he's made our country less safe. He has got to go, and this illegal war has got to stop. No more forever wars. And it's my honor to introduce Kate Conley. Kate Connolly from New York. Good afternoon. I'm Kate Connolly, representative-elect from New York's 17th district, and it is a privilege to be here today alongside my fellow brothers and sisters in service to honor America's veterans. America is the home of the brave. Over the last 20 years, I spent in uniform from the hallowed halls of West Point to six tours overseas, combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, protecting this country. I've had the firsthand experience of seeing our brave men and women in action. Their bravery, their honor, their selflessness in a fight to this country. These courageous men and women give all of themselves in defense of America, swearing an oath to our Constitution to put country before any person or party, and a willingness to make that ultimate sacrifice if necessary. They are the best of us, and they deserve a hell of a lot better. Right now, what we are seeing is a betrayal of those who've put their lives on the line for this country. They deserve a government that will deliver for them, not just with lip service, but with the services that they have earned. That means a VA that functions. That means mental health care and job opportunities and retraining programs, and lower costs so that when they come home, they don't just survive, they thrive. And we have to put an end to these endless, reckless wars to make sure that our veterans, the lives that they are putting on the line are honored. And not treated as something disposable or dishonored with the recklessness that we're seeing from Pete Hegseth and this Congress. As my colleague just said from North Carolina, while Mike Johnson's 119th Congress continues to betray our veterans, Hakeem Jeffries' 120th will not. We're coming in to fight for the people who fight for us. And so for all the veterans out there, make no mistake, your Democratic caucus has your back, has now and always will. Subscribe to One India and never miss an update. Download the OneIndia app now.