Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, faced a contentious confirmation hearing marked by protests and sharp questioning from Democrats. Hegseth, a former Army officer and veterans' advocate, pledged to restore the 'warrior ethos' and rebuild the military. However, Democrats criticized his past comments on women in combat and his lack of management experience. Republican senators, while acknowledging Hegseth's unconventional background, expressed support for his nomination.
The top Republican on the Armed Services Committee said Hegseth was an"unconventional pick," while Democrats questioned his past comments on women in combat. pitched himself as a"change agent" to lead the Defense Department, while Democrats excoriated him as unfit for any military leadership post, let alone its top one, in the first confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump incoming Cabinet on Tuesday.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the new chairman of the Armed Services Committee, acknowledged that Hegseth is an “unconventional” pick, but said “that may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice,” comparing him to Trump. Hegseth did not meet with most of the Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggesting he's more focused on consolidating support among Republicans than winning significant bipartisan backing. He cannot afford to lose many GOP votes in the narrowly divided Senate.Senators in both parties have expressed concern about a 2017 sexual assault allegation.
"It was a false claim," Hegseth repeated multiple times of the assault allegation, insisting he was cleared. “Please explain these types of statements because they’re brutal, and they’re mean, and they disrespect men and women who are willing to die for this country,” Gillibrand said. The longtime member and former chairman of the Armed Services Committee said that has voted for every defense secretary nominee who has come before him, including during Trump’s first term, but that he could not support Hegseth.
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