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.

He said:

“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.

Mullin: War is ugly. It smells bad. If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war and taste it and fill it in your nostrils and hear it, it's something that you'll never forget. Fortunately, we have President Hegseth. President Hegseth has been there. pic.twitter.com/9bWtlXOjqy

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.”

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. https://t.co/5qEOgN5WB4

Mullin has never been in the military or in combat

Ummm, “President Hegseth?” Did Markwayne just say the quiet part out loud??

.@SenMullin Sir, you were 24 on 9/11. You were 25 when the U.S. illegally invaded Iraq. You were 28 when I enlisted after high school. You didn't serve. You were an able-bodied young man who chose to inherit your daddy's business instead of serving. You need to shut your fucking… https://t.co/AYvx9V6w8Z

FACT CHECK: @SenMullin never served in the military and has never been to war. https://t.co/Brbh1IyySz

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