Hegseth: Biden ‘Gave Hundreds of Billions’ to Ukraine, Not That We ‘Missed’ Its Capabilities
Reflecto News | Russia-Ukraine War | U.S. Politics
WASHINGTON — In a contentious exchange on Capitol Hill, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a widely circulated remark he made a year ago—that Ukraine had “no cards to play” against Russia. When Smith asked what Hegseth had missed, the Pentagon chief pivoted sharply, placing the blame for Ukraine’s continued resistance not on Ukrainian ingenuity, but on former President Joe Biden’s massive military aid packages.
Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was questioning Hegseth during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon’s budget and the ongoing war in Iran.
“A year ago, you said that Ukraine had no cards to play. Clearly, that was wrong. What did you miss?”
— Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.)“We didn’t miss. Joe Biden, with no accountability, gave hundreds of billions of dollars of our weapons to Ukraine.”
— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense
🔁 The Original ‘No Cards’ Remark
Hegseth’s original comment, made in early 2025 while he was still a Fox News host before being tapped as Secretary of Defense, quickly became a focal point for critics who accused him of underestimating Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression.
At the time, Ukraine’s counteroffensive had stalled, and some Western analysts were predicting that Kyiv would be forced to negotiate with Moscow or face collapse. Hegseth’s “no cards” remark was interpreted as a reflection of that pessimistic view.
But Ukrainian forces, supplied with Western weapons—including long-range ATACMS, F-16s, and advanced air defense systems—have continued to hold the line, launching deep strikes into Russian territory, including on oil refineries and ammunition depots, while preventing a Russian breakthrough on multiple fronts.
Critics argued that Hegseth had “missed” Kyiv’s ability to adapt, innovate with drones, and leverage Western aid effectively. His response to Smith was an effort to reframe the narrative: He didn’t underestimate Ukraine; he was criticizing Biden’s open-ended, unconditional aid as fiscally irresponsible. According to Hegseth, Ukraine’s resilience today is not evidence of his earlier error, but rather a direct consequence of Biden’s profligacy, which he implies was excessive, unstructured, and without accountability .
💰 ‘Hundreds of Billions’—A Closer Look at the Numbers
Hegseth’s claim about Biden giving “hundreds of billions of dollars of our weapons to Ukraine” requires context.
Total U.S. aid to Ukraine (all categories) to date: Approximately $175 billion (Congressional Budget Office data), roughly two-thirds of which has been military aid (weapons, munitions, training, intelligence support)—i.e., slightly more than $100 billion in direct military aid.
“Hundreds of billions” — plural—would imply at least $200 billion, an overstatement of actual military aid provided under Biden. However, Hegseth might be conflating military aid with economic and humanitarian assistance, or referring to the total value of equipment drawn from U.S. stocks (which may appear as a higher replacement cost).
Under President Trump: Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has continued to supply weapons to Ukraine, approving additional packages of ammunition and air defense components. The White House is currently negotiating with European allies to shift more of the burden to NATO, but arms have not stopped flowing.
Hegseth’s suggestion that Biden sent weapons with “no accountability” echoes a long-standing Republican talking point that Ukraine aid lacked sufficient oversight. The Pentagon and State Department dispute this, pointing to inspectors general reports and embassy monitoring—though both sides acknowledge that tracking every weapon in a war zone is inherently difficult .
🔊 Trump vs. Biden on Ukraine: A Key 2024 Fault Line
The Smith-Hegseth exchange previews a central theme of the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential campaign: who is to blame for the cost—and the conduct—of the Ukraine war.
Republican argument (as articulated by Hegseth): Biden’s open-ended, “no accountability” aid enabled Ukraine to fight, but only by draining U.S. stockpiles without a clear strategy for ending the war. Trump is now cleaning up the mess and trying to force Europe to pay its fair share .
Democratic counter-argument: Biden’s aid saved Ukraine from collapse, and Hegseth’s “no cards” remark showed he would have handed victory to Putin. Trump’s hesitation empowers Russia and undermines the allies.
Rep. Smith’s question—”What did you miss?”—was designed to force Hegseth to admit an error. Instead, Hegseth changed the subject to Biden’s appropriations record, successfully avoiding a direct admission while still sending a signal to Trump’s political base .
🧠 What Hegseth’s Pivot Reveals
Hegseth’s pivot suggests several things about the administration’s current thinking on Ukraine:
- No change in policy: He is not calling for ending weapons shipments to Ukraine; he is reframing past statements to avoid political embarrassment.
- Blame Biden, not Ukraine: The administration wants credit for Ukraine’s continued resistance, but Hegseth will not acknowledge that Ukrainian creativity or courage played a role—only U.S. weapons did.
- Fiscal focus: The talking point is shifting from “can Ukraine win?” to “how much did it cost?”—and the answer is “too much, too loosely, under Biden.”
The underlying irony is that Ukraine is still fighting, despite Hegseth’s prediction that it had “no cards” to play. The administration may view that as a vindication of Trump’s decision to continue arming Kyiv, albeit on different terms. But by refusing to answer Smith’s question directly, Hegseth left the impression that he is still unwilling to admit he was wrong—even if events have proven him so.
📋 Key Takeaways for Reflecto News Readers
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Rep. Smith’s Question | “A year ago, you said Ukraine had no cards to play. Clearly that was wrong. What did you miss?” |
| Hegseth’s Answer | “We didn’t miss. Joe Biden, with no accountability, gave hundreds of billions of dollars of our weapons to Ukraine.” |
| Original “No Cards” Remark | Made in early 2025 while Hegseth was still a Fox News host; widely criticized as underestimating Ukraine. |
| Ukraine’s Current Status | Still fighting, launching deep strikes into Russia, holding front lines—contradicting “no cards” prediction. |
| U.S. Aid to Ukraine | ~$175B total (all categories); ~$100B+ in direct military aid. |
| Biden’s “Accountability” | Republicans allege lack of oversight; Pentagon says mechanisms exist. |
| Trump’s Position | Continues to supply weapons, but pushes Europe to pay more; skeptical of “blank check.” |
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