Lauren Boebert sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for campaigning in Kentucky during the ongoing conflict with Iran, saying the decision was “really difficult to grasp.”
During an interview with NewsNation host Chris Cuomo, Boebert said she supported portions of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy but questioned why Hegseth was spending time on campaign events “in the middle of a war.” She specifically referenced Hegseth’s appearance in Kentucky to campaign against Rep. Thomas Massie, one of the administration’s most vocal Republican critics on Iran policy.
“It’s really tough to defend all the aspects of this war with Iran currently, especially when we see the secretary of war doing campaign events in Kentucky, of all places, in the middle of a war,” Boebert said.
Mediaite reported additional details about the exchange:
“When you look at the state of play heading into the midterms, maybe now Cuba, the regime– you know, you’re going to have to own those decisions when the ballots come back around,” said NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during an interview with Boebert. “What do you make of not focusing on the domestic battles that a lot of MAGA voters signed up for?”
He continued, “That was the war they thought they were gonna be fighting, was a policy battle about fixing the affordability crisis at home that has really real implications in your home state and specifically in your district. What do you make of that?”
Boebert responded, “These foreign issues that we are facing are not my top priority. I understand that the president is tackling them hard. I praised him for his work in Venezuela, I praised him for the initial strikes in Iran, and it’s really tough to defend all the aspects of this war with Iran currently, especially when we see the secretary of war doing campaign events in Kentucky, of all places, in the middle of a war. That’s really difficult to grasp.”
She continued, “But also, I am listening to my voters, and at this time, the president is on par with what many of them are wanting. Not all of them. Many have reached out as well, saying that they want to end this, but the domestic issues are priority. They’re certainly my priority.”
Hegseth traveled to Kentucky earlier this week to endorse former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in the Republican primary against Massie, framing the race as a key test of loyalty to Trump and the MAGA movement. The appearance drew criticism because senior defense officials traditionally avoid overt campaign activity during active military conflicts.
The comments underscore growing tensions inside the Republican Party over the Iran war. Massie has emerged as one of the leading GOP voices opposing deeper U.S. involvement, while several populist conservatives — including Boebert and Tucker Carlson allies — have warned the conflict risks distracting from domestic priorities and fracturing Trump’s political coalition ahead of the midterms.
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