Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face questioning from lawmakers Wednesday for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump launched the war against Iran. The hearing was called to discuss Trump's proposal to boost next year's military spending to an unprecedented $1.5 trillion. Democrats are likely to focus on the ballooning costs of a conflict waged without congressional approval. Republicans said they'll keep faith in Trump's leadership, for now. Meanwhile talks on ending the war have stalled. Trump posted on social media Wednesday that Iran “better get smart soon!" with an image of himself carrying a weapon in a war zone, saying “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY.”

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Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, right, talks to Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, left, puts her arm around Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, left, laughs with Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Oakland Ceasefire-Lifeline life coach LaSasha Long, left, poses for photos with Bernard C. during an interview Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Mourners carry the coffin of Palestinian fighter Hozeifa Hamza Ghannamieh, who was killed alongside Ibrahim Anwar al-Khalayli while fighting alongside Hezbollah against Israel in southern Lebanon, during their funeral procession as children watch from behind a fence in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)