Jon Ossoff Challenges Pete Hegseth Over Claims About Iran, Says He’s ‘Lied Non-Stop’ About the War
Jon Ossoff goes off.
Senator Jon Ossoff’s campaign rally speech is drawing renewed attention on social media for its controversial content. At a rally in Atlanta on August 16, 2026, Ossoff told hundreds of people that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was lying to American citizens about Iran.
NOssoff said, “On day nine of the war, the incompetent Pete Hegseth guaranteed Iranian surrender. On day 14, he claimed Iran’s military had been destroyed. On day 40, he said every single objective had been achieved. That was four months ago.”
He continued, “They’ve lied non-stop about this war. Like they lie about everything. And they know they’re lying, but they lie, and they keep lying anyway because in this White House, they view persistence in deceit as a virtue.”
Ossoff also raised concerns over soldiers on board the USS Abraham Lincoln
During the event, Ossoff also spoke about the critical conditions the personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln had endured for more than 240 days, noting they hadn’t gone without a port call for so long before. Extending his appreciation to the officers, despite the situation, Ossoff said, “Still they serve with excellence. God bless the sailors, Marines, aviators, and all aboard the United States ship Abraham Lincoln.”
Ossoff, while raising concerns about incompetent leadership and stressing the need for competent leadership among the officers aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, said, “See, they don’t expect luxury. They’ll endure hardship, but they deserve competent leaders who send them into combat only when necessary and with decisive clarity of purpose.” Taking a dig at Hegseth and members of the Trump administration, he added, “not fools who lie about the purpose and progress of war.”
The sufferings of officers aboard USS Abraham Lincoln are not a secret
A CNN article discussed the stress soldiers aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln had been experiencing due to their prolonged time at sea. The article noted that amid “regular strains on essential amenities” and other issues, more officers were increasingly showing signs of suicidal ideation.
A BBC article cited two unnamed officials, who said in August a sailor went overboard and was rescued by a helicopter. He allegedly then received medical treatment and was transferred off the ship for additional care.
The Navy refuted these claims. In a statement to CNN, they said, “We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.”
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