A progressive veterans group slammed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) on Monday after the MAGA Republican offered a vivid description of the “smell” of war while defending Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran.
VoteVets, a political action committee that works to elect Democratic veterans to Congress and frequently slams Trump and his allies, tore into Mullin for his sensory depiction of combat on Fox News, despite having never served.
“War is ugly. It smells bad. And if anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happening around you and taste it, and feel it in your nostrils, and hear it, it’s something that you’ll never forget. And it’s ugly.”
Mullin then tripped over his words while praising Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accidentally referring to him as “President Hegseth” twice.
“And fortunately you have President Hegseth. Err, I said President Hegseth, Secretary Hegseth, that has got a great relationship with President Trump and President Hegseth’s been there. He’s done that,” he said.
Critics on social media were quick to point out that Mullin’s depiction of war did not stem from personal experience and also mocked him for the “President Hegseth” gaffe.
VoteVets piled on with a particularly biting response:
“Sen. Mullin probably thinks war smells like Mt. Dew, couch cushions, and control sweat because Call of Duty is the closest he’s ever been to war.”