WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans welcomed Pete Hegseth warmly during his hearing before the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, signaling their support for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense. Hegseth faced scrutiny due to past controversies, including allegations of misconduct and controversial remarks, but Republicans expressed optimism after questioning him for over four hours. They believe the former Fox News host and Army veteran will secure the necessary votes for confirmation, with the GOP holding 53 Senate seats and needing 50 votes for approval. Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Hegseth’s performance and qualifications, stating that he presented a compelling case for his appointment.
Key points from the confirmation hearing include Senator Joni Ernst’s measured approach, despite initial reservations, as she focused on issues like Pentagon audits and combat roles for women. Senator Tim Kaine raised questions about Hegseth’s personal conduct and trustworthiness, prompting Hegseth to address past mistakes and emphasize his faith. In response to Kaine’s line of questioning, Senator Kevin Cramer and Senator Markwayne Mullin defended Hegseth against criticisms from the panel.
Overall, the hearing showcased Hegseth’s ability to address concerns and make a case for his nomination as the next secretary of defense.
“How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you asked them to step down and resign from their job?” he said. “How many senators do you know have gotten a divorce before cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down?”
“We’ve all made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes,” Mullin said. “Jennifer, thank you for loving him through that mistake,” he said, referring to Hegseth’s wife, “because the only reason why I’m here and not in prison is because my wife loved me, too.”
The comments underscored how some Republicans have rallied around Hegseth after a bumpy start to the confirmation process.
Culture war rhetoric dominates
Throughout the hearing, Hegseth repeatedly lavished praise on Trump and criticized President Joe Biden’s administration, channeling the language of the MAGA movement. He inveighed against “left-wing woke universities” and attacked the “left-wing media in America,” calling himself the victim of a “smear campaign.”
“And what we knew is that it wasn’t about me, most of it was about President Donald Trump, who’s had to endure the very same thing for much longer amounts of time,” Hegseth said. “And he endured it in incredibly strong ways.”
When Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., pressed Hegseth on whether “there are some orders that can be given by the commander in chief that would violate the U.S. Constitution,” he deflected and repeatedly rejected the premise that Trump might do that.
“I understand. You’ve done your genuflecting to him,” Slotkin said.
Democrats press Hegseth on women in combat
Multiple Democrats took aim at Hegseth’s past remarks that women shouldn’t serve in combat roles.
“It’s a silly thing to say,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said, calling it “beneath the position that you are aspiring to.”
“We have hundreds, hundreds of women who are currently in the infantry, lethal members of our military serving in the infantry,” she said. “But you degrade them. You say we need moms, but not in the military, especially in combat units.”
Hegseth has since softened his opposition to women serving in the military. He said his views, “recently and in the past, and from personal experience, have been” based on “instances where I’ve seen standards lowered.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who lost her legs serving in combat after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq, also took exception to Hegseth’s past stances.
“You can’t seem to grasp that there is no U.S. military as we know it without the incredible women that we serve, women who earn their place in their units,” Duckworth said. “You have not earned your place as secretary of defense.”
