Virginia senator on Gen. Donahue’s resignation and progressive candidates’ victories

(CBS, KYMA) - Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) spoke with Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation Sunday about U.S. Army Europe Gen. Chris Donahue's resignation.

According to Brennan, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered Gen. Donahue to turn in his retirement papers, and he is ordered to relinquish command on July 2 and relinquish NATO command on July 9.

This prompted her to ask Sen. Kaine if he has any indication Donahue was getting pushed out the door, to which he said:

"I am in Europe with a bipartisan delegation of senators visiting NATO allies and our troops, talking primarily about NATO summit next week and support for Ukraine. I will say on General Donahue, a lot of questions and very few answers. He was very well regarded in the Armed Services Committee, where I sit, both sides of the aisle thought really highly of him, and so the news that he was being ushered out caught us all by surprise, and we don't yet have good answers from the Pentagon."

During the interview, Brennan and Kaine talked about the victories of three far-left candidates who were handpicked by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

President Donald Trump responded to these victories, saying, "It's becoming a communist party. These are not social democrats, these are hardcore godless communists. They're godless communists. All communists are godless. They don't believe in God. This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence."

When asked what he thought of President Trump's comments, and if he has any concerns that the progressive platform of some members of the Democratic Party will "make it more difficult to win in other parts of the country headed into November," the senator said:

"What the president said is just goofy word salad. I'm not an expert on New York House races, I am an expert on Senate races, and we have got Senate candidates all over this country working to flip red seats blue by focusing on the president's mismanagement of the American economy, families are suffering cost increases because of chaotic tariffs, illegal war and focus on goofy things like ballrooms, arches, and the reflecting pool. And in Virginia, at the house races, I've got four Democratic challengers running to flip red seats blue, who are focused on that same kind of cost and affordability agenda that led us to have a landslide win in state races last fall. So, I can't really explain, you know, what's on the voters' minds in New York City congressional races, but I know what's on Virginians' minds, and I think I know what's on Americans' minds. Let's focus on the economy and bringing costs down, not foolish wars and chaos."

To watch more of Brennan's interview with Kaine, click here.