Hegseth Ridiculed for Failing to Name the Part of the Constitution Allowing Trump to Deploy Marines for LA Protests: 'He Knows Nothing'

Hegseth was questioned by Senator Tammy Baldwin at a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing about President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles in the wake of escalating immigration protests.

"Specifically, Mr. Secretary, what is the authority that the administration is using to deploy active duty Marines to California neighborhoods?" Baldwin asked.

"The president has constitutional authority," Hegseth responded.

"Cite the provision of the Constitution," Baldwin pressed.

"I'd have to pull up the specific provision, but our Office of General Counsel, alongside our leadership, has reviewed and ensured in the order that we set out, that it's completely constitutional for the President to use federal troops to defend federal law enforcement," Hegseth responded.

"I'd like to know the specific constitutional statutory authority. The President made it clear that he relied on section 12406 and title 10 with regard to the National Guard troops. I need to know the authority that he is relying upon in terms of active duty Marines being deployed to California neighborhoods. So you'll follow up with me?" Baldwin stated.

"Yes, Senator, but there's plenty of precedent of active duty troops being used to support law enforcement. Historical precedent," Hegseth said.

"I am not disputing that, I am just asking you to cite the authority," she asked again.

Social media users quickly took to online platforms to mock Hegseth for his inability to cite the constitutional statute that gave the Trump administration the authority to deploy active Marines to quell local protests.

"Who are they kidding! They can't defend anything they are doing and it shows!" said one user.

"Translation: he doesn't know," said another.

"Luv her questioning, testing his knowledge of Constitution provisions he should know, of course. Pete Hegseth is still just a fox entertainment host, and he knows NOTHING pertaining to his job," said a third.

"He doesn't know, does he??" wrote a fourth.

President Donald Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard Troops and 700 active duty Marines troops to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles. The protests began last Friday, and entered their fifth day today.