Rep. Adam Smith Critiques Trump Administration’s Lack of Transparency
Rep. Adam Smith from Washington expressed concerns on CNN’s “Outfront” regarding the Trump administration’s failure to provide clear information about wounded or killed soldiers.
A portion of the conversation was transcribed:
Erin Burnett: Are you aware of the full extent of injuries to American troops and the overall loss of military equipment?
Smith: Not really. We don’t have that kind of information. The Department of Defense isn’t forthcoming with these details. I’ve received reports from individuals connected to military bases in places like Jordan or Iraq. They mention hearing about attacks, like, “Oh, I was told 20 or 30 people were injured.” Yet, the Pentagon hasn’t confirmed anything. We’re left to dig into it ourselves, much like what the New York Times does. And honestly, as you’ve mentioned, it’s just not transparent—there’s hardly any reporting or dialogue on these issues.
It feels as though a dictator is in control. We’ve never faced a situation where we’re engaged in a conflict and the president treats it as his personal affair without sharing critical information with Congress or the American public. It’s alarming. We’re not being informed about the losses in equipment, the costs associated with the war, or the number of injured service members.
BURNETT: Can you shed light on something that seems obvious but is perhaps necessary to address? As the lead Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, wouldn’t you expect to know the extent of damage to U.S. military bases and the status of the missile defense system? Your sources should ideally be more robust than calls from acquaintances, yet it seems they aren’t.
Smith: Exactly. We’re actively seeking the truth. My team maintains contact with several members within the Department of Defense. But they’re not open about this. We have to pull the information from them or uncover it through other means. The lack of transparency is undoubtedly troubling. The war with Iran has faced significant public disapproval since President Trump initiated it in February. Surveys consistently reveal a majority of Americans oppose it.
