GOP Rep Makes Embarrassing Error During Live Fox Business Interview

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R) accidentally claimed that “we are closer to World War 2” in an interview with Fox Business on Jan. 14, 2025.
Screenshot/Fox News Business

Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden suffered an embarrassing gaffe on Tuesday when he claimed that “we are closer to World War 2” than ever in a live interview on Fox Business.

While reflecting on Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s senate hearing in an interview with Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow, the Wisconsin representative voiced his support for Hegseth and his belief in the former Fox News personality’s capability to take on the position.

“We’ve got somebody now in the Pentagon who’s gonna follow Donald Trump’s lead and make sure that we have peace in the world again,” Van Orden said.

“We are closer to World War 2 than we have been in my entire lifetime,” he continued, flubbing the number. “It is now time to project peace through strength, and Pete Hegseth is gonna bring that home and bring America across the line. We’re gonna protect our citizens and our allies for the first time in the last four years.”

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Shortly after Trump announced Hegseth as his nominee to lead the Pentagon, a swarm of allegations against the former Fox News host came to light, including accusations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and financial mismanagement at several veterans’s organizations Hegseth ran.

The embattled nominee has denied all the allegations and any wrongdoing.

While the GOP have been largely supportive of Hegseth throughout his senate hearing, Democrats haven’t been as deferential.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for example, claimed that he is “woefully unfit to be Secretary of Defense” on “all accounts.”

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, echoed the sentiments in his opening statement Tuesday.

“The totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense,” Reed said.