Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa quizzed Pete Hegseth at his Senate confirmation hearing on his stance on women in the military, allowing him to clarify where he stands on the matter after a slew of questions from Democrats.
“Let’s make it very clear for everyone here today as Secretary of Defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?” Ernst asked President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon.
“Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat roles given the standards remain high, and we’ll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded,” Hegseth said.
“In any one of these cases, that will be part of one of the first things we do at the Pentagon is reviewing that in a gender neutral way. The standards ensuring readiness and meritocracy is front and center. But absolutely, it would be the privilege of a lifetime, to, if confirmed, to be the Secretary of Defense for all men and women in uniform who fight so heroically, they have so many other options. They decide to put their right hand up, for our country. And it would be an honor to have a chance to lead them,” he said.
Social media users are criticizing a Democratic senator for claiming that Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth would lead a military invasion of Greenland if nominated.
The critiques came during Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, where lawmakers were given the opportunity to question Trump’s pick for Defense secretary.
One Democrat in particular, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, caused a firestorm of social media reactions after asking Hegseth whether he would invade Greenland or take over the Panama Canal.
“Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would never publicly state one way or another to direct the orders of the president,” Hegseth responded.
Hirono also claimed that Trump ordered guards to “shoot protesters in the legs” during a protest at Layfayette Square in Washington D.C. in 2020, and asked if Hegseth would carry out such an order.
“I was in the Washington, D.C. National Guard unit that was in Lafayette Square during those events, holding a riot shield on behalf of my country,” Hegseth said. “I saw 50 Secret Service agents get injured by riot agents.”
Brigette Gabriel, ACT for America founder and chairman, wrote that “Mazie Hirono might be the least intelligent Member of Congress, and that’s saying something.”
“This line of questioning is unbecoming of her position as a United States Senator,” Gabriel said on X.
“Clown show,” wrote Eric Daughtery, Assistant News Director of Florida’s Voice.
Excerpted from Fox News’s Aubrie Spady.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., praised Pete Hegseth in his confirmation process to be the next secretary of defense, with the senator claiming Hegseth will be confirmed,
“He’s doing a great job. He’s explaining basically he’s going to talk about…he’s talking about what he’s going to do to make this the most lethal military in the world,” Scott told Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson..
“He’s going to be confirmed as the next secretary of defense and he’s going to do a great job,” he said.
Hegseth did not commit to not taking a job in the defense industry after leaving the defense secretary role under questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Hegseth has previously advocated for retiring military generals to be banned from taking defense industry jobs for 10 years after their retirement.
“Will you agree when you leave the Defense Department, you won’t work for the defense industry for 10 years?” Warren asked.
“It’s not even something I’ve thought about,” said Hegseth, adding he would consult the law.
“You are quite sure every General who serves should not go directly into the defense industry for 10 years but you’re not willing to make that same pledge?” said Warren.
“I’m not a general, senator,” Hegseth shot back.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., noted that the current defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general, was on the board of defense contractor Raytheon before he was confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
Trump defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was grilled by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Tuesday over his extramarital affairs, including specifics on the timing and fidelity to each wife— all while in the presence of Hegseth’s seven-year-old daughter.
During the back-and-forth, Kaine sharply questioned Hegseth over his behavior in earlier marriages, including a October 2017 incident in Monterey, Calif., in which Hegseth was accused of sexual assault.
Hegseth was later cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation, and has since described the incident as consensual. “I was fully investigated and completely cleared,” he said of the allegation.
Still, Kaine grilled him over his behavior and the timing of the encounter, asking: “So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime? That’s your definition of cleared?”
“You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman that was not your wife,” Kaine said. “I am shocked that you would stand here and say you are completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child who had been born two months before?”
“Senator, her child’s name is Gwendolyn Hope Hegseth, and she’s a child of God,” Hegseth responded.
“She’s seven years old, and I am glad she’s here.”
Written by Breanne Deppisch
“I find this grandstanding from Senate Democrats over the Hegseth confirmation perplexing,” Vice President-elect J.D. Vance mused on X.
“We haven’t won a war in three decades and we have a major recruitment challenge.Hegseth is assuredly NOT more of the same, and that’s good!”
Since 9:30 a.m., Hegseth has faced a barrage of questioning from senators on the Armed Services Committee. Democrats have pressed the nominee on a sexual assault allegation from 2017, his comments on women in combat, his drinking habits, and even breaking his marriage vows – with his wife seated just behind him.
Top Armed Services Democrat Jack Reed told Hegseth at the outset: “I do not believe you are qualified. There are concerning public reports against you. You are implicated in disregarding the rules of war, racist and sexist remarks, alcohol abuse, sexual assault and harassment, and other troubling issues.”
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked Hegseth about his infidelity. “Can you so casually cheat on a second wife and cheat on the mother of a child that had been born two months before?”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked Pete Hegseth about his views on Israel’s war in Gaza Tuesday, to which Hegseth said he supports “destroying and killing” every member of Hamas.
The remarks came after hecklers were dragged out of Hegseth’s confirmation hearing Tuesday.
Cotton asked Hegseth to respond to one of the protesters, who had shouted “Christian Zionist” before being removed.
“Do you consider yourself a Christian Zionist?” Cotton asked Hegseth.
“I’m a Christian, and I robustly support the State of Israel and its existential defense,” Hegseth responded.
Cotton then asked whether that could be taken to mean Hegseth, like himself and like President-elect Donald Trump, also supports Israel’s war in Gaza.
In response, Hegseth said: “I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas.”
Written by Breanne Deppisch.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., slammed what she described as “anonymous smear campaigns” against Pete Hegseth, as President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon faced the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“I think any any concerns that they had specifically regarding the anonymous smear campaigns were actually addressed by Mr. Hegseth in his opening. and so I think that he’s very qualified,” she told Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson.
“The one thing that I would like to see in our next secretary of defense, which he checks that box, is that he has combat experience. we need people that have served in the front lines and understand the gravity of their decisions and that it will impact people, it is a life and death decision so we’re very supportive of his nomination,” she said.
“I think he has the votes for it today. So we’ll run through this process, but we’re looking forward to a great Secretary of Defense,” she added.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, hounded Pete Hegseth with questions about unwanted sexual advances and whether he’d commit to quitting the defense secretary role if he ever drank on the job.
“Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?” asked Hirono.
“No, senator,” said Hegseth.
Hirono asked if Hegseth would keep his commitment to not drinking if confirmed, and he said he would.
She then asked about a 2017 police report on an allegation that Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel room. “I was falsely accused in October 2017. It was fully investigated. And I was completely cleared,” said Hegseth. “I don’t think completely cleared is accurate,” said Hirono”
“Would you use the military to take over Greenland or an ally?” she then asked.
“Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would never publicly state give one way or another to direct the orders of the president–” said Hegseth.
“Sounds to me you are considering carrying out an order to invade Greenland and take over the Panama Canal,” said Hirono.
Hegseth also told Hirono he would do “whatever the president wants” on Pentagon-funded travel for abortions. “I don’t believe the federal government should be funding travel for abortion.”
A Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, grilled Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth over his views on women serving in the military, citing remarks Hegseth made as recently as November the U.S. military “should not have women in combat roles.”
“You’ve made a number of surprising statements about women in the military,” Shaheen told Hegseth, before noting that women comprise roughly 18% of U.S. military personnel.
“Women in our military, as I have said publicly, have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield,” Hegseth responded
In response, Shaheen said that prior to his nomination, his statements publicly “have not been to that effect.”
“After your nomination and you did state to a group of reporters that you quote, ‘support all women serving in our military today who do a fantastic job across the globe, including combat,'” she said.
“So what I’m confused about, Mr. Hegseth, is why should women in our military — if you were the secretary of defense — believe that they would have a fair shot and an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks? If, on the one hand, you say that women are not competent, they make our military less effective — and on the other hand, you say, ‘Oh, now, now that I’ve been nominated to be the Secretary of Defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military.’”
In response, Hegseth reiterated to Shaheen that his concerns were about the standards used for women in combat roles, and ensuring they are not eroded in allowing women to serve at all levels of the military.
“I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside, shoulder to shoulder, men and women; black, white; all backgrounds with a shared purpose,” Hegseth said.
Written by Breanne Deppisch, video from Julia Johnson
Some 200 former Navy SEALS are marching in Washington, D.C. to support Hegseth’s confirmation, Fox News has learned. They include Reps. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., and Eli Crane, R-Ariz. The group, which also includes service members who worked with Hegseth in the Army National Guard, met at the Vietnam Memorial and began marching toward the Capitol.
Dozens of other SEALS and veterans packed into the Senate hearing room where Hegseth was facing questioning from the Armed Services Committee.
Other House members also crossed the Capitol to support Hegseth in the Senate hearing, including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Joe Wilson, R-S.C.
“There’s something really powerful about having a physical presence of support, other than just social media,” said Rob Sweetman, an organizer of the march and the Capitol Hill presence.
Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth stressed the need to modernize U.S. nuclear system to better defend against growing threats from adversaries such as Russia and China.
Hegseth said that he is committed to “using every tool available” to prioritize nuclear deterrence if confirmed to head up the Defense Department, including using the Defense Production Act’s emergency powers to expedite U.S. production of nuclear capabilities if needed.
His remarks came in response to a question from Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., who asked Hegseth whether he would commit to supporting “all three legs of the nuclear triad,” or the military strategy that uses three types of nuclear deterrence to prevent attacks from U.S. adversaries such as Russia and China.
The strategy relies on three types of weapons for deterrence, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs; submarine-launched ballistic missiles, SLBMs; and strategic long-range bombers
Hegseth told Fischer that he would. “Ultimately, our deterrence, our survival is reliant upon the capability, the perception, and the reality of the capability of our nuclear triad,” he told Fischer. “We have to invest in its modernization for the defense of our nation.”
“We also have an ally in our incoming commander in chief in President Donald Trump, who has spoken about these things, understands the power and strength of nuclear deterrence will not advance,” Hegseth said.
Written by Breanne Deppisch
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., did not speak to reporters as she arrived for Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Hegseth to shake up the Pentagon as his defense secretary, but the former Fox News host has been entangled in controversies that Democrats on the committee can be expected to question him about.
Slotkin was previously a member of the House since 2019, but won her race for a seat in the upper chamber in November.
Pete Hegseth was interrupted by multiple protesters during his opening remarks before the Senate Armed Services Committee, including one protester who was carried out by U.S. Capitol Police.
At least four protesters were ejected from the hearing room Tuesday morning Hegseth outlined his plans to lead the Defense Department in his opening remarks— an emotional statement in which he shared his own experience as a veteran and the time spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his desire to do the same if confirmed to head up the Pentagon.
“To all the troops and veterans watching and here in this room—Navy Seals, Green Berets, soldiers, pilots, sailors, Marines, Gold Stars and more,” Hegseth began, “to officers enlisted, black and white, young and old, men and women— all Americans, all warriors. This hearing is for you,” he said.
Before continuing further, one protester shouted loudly: “You are a misogynist,” the protester said. The rest of the protester’s remarks were cut short as he was swiftly removed from the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing room, allowing Hegseth to continue.
“Thank you for figuratively and literally having my back,” Hegseth said, returning to his opening statement. “I pledge to do the same for all of you”
More hecklers and protesters stood to interrupt Hegseth during his opening remarks, including one protester in fatigues and an elderly man who interrupted his testimony, earning quick ejections from the room.
Many of their shouts were muffled and could not be immediately made out.
Reporting from Breanne Deppisch and Julia Johnson
Hegseth was asked to respond to allegations of sexual harassment, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement by committee chair Sen. Wicker, R-Miss., who noted most of the reports relied on anonymous sources.
“I’m not a perfect person. I’ve been saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny. I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real, and God forged me in ways I know I’m prepared for. I’m honored by the people standing and sitting behind me, and I look forward to leading this Pentagon on behalf of the warfighters,” Hegseth responded.
He then claimed “left wing media” had refused to report on anyone who had worked with him and had a good experience.
“Our left-wing media doesn’t care about the truth. All they want to do is destroy me – because I am a change agent, a threat to them.”
“Left-wing media, anonymous source after anonymous source, based on second-or-third-hand account. People would tell me, ‘I’ve spoken to this reporter on the record about who you are. They didn’t print MY quote, any of my quotes.'”
President-elect Donald Trump sent shock waves through the national security establishment when he nominated Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary.
The plain-speaking former Army National Guard officer would set himself apart from other Defense secretaries with his prolific record of criticism of the institution he has been tapped to run. A culture warrior, on-air commentator and author, the paper trail of his publicly shared views will be on full display in his confirmation hearing.
“I’ve been a recovering neocon for six years now,” Hegseth, a former Fox News host, told the “Shawn Ryan Show” podcast.
He said he was a huge proponent of the Iraq War “at the time,” but “in retrospect, absolutely not.”
“The hubris of the Pentagon is they want to now tell other countries how to do counterinsurgency based on what we did in Iraq and Afghanistan. The trust that our political leaders and our generals would have our best interests in mind is totally broken,” he explained. “At the same time. I’m fearful of what happens when the institution gets abandoned.”
In a past life, Hegseth ran Vets for Freedom, a pro-Iraq War advocacy group. He then pivoted and became CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a restraint-minded advocacy group that was heavily focused on reforming the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, became emotional as he paid tribute to his family at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
“Thank you to my incredible wife, Jennifer, who has changed my life and been with me throughout this entire process. I love you, sweetheart, and I thank God for you,” he said as his voice waivered.
“And as Jenny and I pray together every morning, all glory, regardless of the outcome, belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. His grace and mercy abounds each day. May his will be done.”
“Thank you to my father, Brian and Mother Penny, as well as our entire family, including our seven wonderful kids Gunner, Jackson, Peter Boone, Kensington, Luke, Rex…Gwendolyn, their future safety and security is in all of our hands,” he said.
His opening remarks were peppered by pauses due to protests among the gathered audience.
Former Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., gave his enthusiastic endorsement of Pete Hegseth to be the next U.S. defense secretary, conceding he is an “out of the box” pick, but arguing that that is what is needed.
“We need the ones who can change to lead us to be beacons of hope, and to remind us that grace can lead us home,” Coleman told the Armed Services Committee.
“Four years ago, President Biden’s nominee, Lloyd Austin, a good and honorable man, received 97 votes on the floor of the Senate. And we went through the debacle of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Putin invaded Ukraine. The Houthis endangered our shipping lanes. We witness Israeli miracles against America’s enemies in the Middle East, where the United States was more of an impediment than a help. Our recruitment numbers have shrunk dramatically, and our southern border has suffered a slow but dangerous invasion,” he said.
“Yes, Pete Hegseth is an out of the box nominee, and I say it’s high time to get out of the box,” he added.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss, praised Trump defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth Tuesday as an experienced nominee who is well-positioned to help meet the challenges of today’s Department of Defense— describing his unconventional background as an asset rather than a shortfall.
“Today’s Department of Defense is no longer prepared for great power competitions, and it is not a national defense institution ready to achieve and sustain technological supremacy across the range of operations,” Wicker said at the outset of Tuesday’s hearing.”
And while Wicker acknowledged Hegseth is unconventional, he said that in his view, that “may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice to improve this unacceptable status quo that I just described.”
Hegseth “will inject a new warrior ethos into the Pentagon, a spirit that can cascade from the top down,” Wicker said.
“He will focus relentlessly on the warfighter and the military’s core missions, deterring wars and winning the ones we must fight.”
Written by Breanne Deppisch
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met last night with Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Democrats to discuss the confirmation hearing for Defense nominee Pete Hegseth hours before it is slated to take place.
Schumer and other Democrats have made their opposition to the former Fox News host clear in the days leading up to the hearing, which is the first to take place of all Trump’s nominees.
The meeting, first reported by Axios, comes after Schumer urged his fellow caucus members to grill Trump’s nominees in their upcoming hearings and force them to go on record about controversial Trump agenda items, per a Senate Democratic source.
The source added that Democrats are planning to lay the groundwork to say that they warned about Trump’s Cabinet picks early on.
Senate Republicans hold a 53 to 47 majority in the chamber, allowing Hegseth to pass confirmation without a single Democratic vote, so long as he earns broad GOP support.
From Julia Johnson and Breanne Deppisch.
Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee is now underway.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Hegseth to lead the Pentagon as defense secretary, but the former Fox News host has been entangled in controversies on which Democrats on the committee are expected to focus.
In his opening statement, Hegseth is expected to nod to his war-fighting experience and status as an outsider to the Pentagon establishment, telling committee members it’s “time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm.” He intends to “restore the warrior ethos to the Pentagon,” provide “new defense companies” with a better shot at winning contracts, and rapidly deploy emerging technologies.
“It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years,” he is to say, according to a copy of the opening statement obtained by Axios in advance of the hearing. “But, as President Trump also told me, we’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly ‘the right credentials’ — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us?”
Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI., will tear into Pete Hegseth in his opening statement at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this morning.
“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job.We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you,” he will say, according to prepared remarks. “A variety of sources – including your own writings – implicate you with disregarding laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues.”
“I have reviewed many of these allegations, and find them extremely alarming,” he will say.
“Indeed, the totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any servicemember from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defense.”
“Finally, while I appreciate our meeting last week, it is unacceptable that you did not meet with any other Democratic members of this committee before this hearing, as has been our bipartisan tradition,” he will say.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., praised Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, for his military record Tuesday, saying in an interview that he believes Hegseth is “ready to go.”
“He’s going to do well today,” said Banks, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and fellow veteran. “I’ve met with him. I’ve been in some of the practice meetings with him. … He’s going to knock it out of the park.”
He also noted that Hegseth, if confirmed, will be the first Secretary of Defense who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Pete “will be the first Secretary of Defense from my generation— the post 9/11 generation— of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans,” Banks said. “He served in both places.
“I served in Afghanistan, so I appreciate his service immensely,” he added.
Posted by Breanne Deppisch.
Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, was described as an “incredibly talented, battle-proven leader,” during his time according to a copy of military evaluations exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, will be grilled today on his ability to lead the Department of Defense, and in particular over previous remarks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military.
But past performance evaluations obtained by Fox News describe Hegseth’s “outstanding” leadership skills over the years of his military service, citing deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Having taken charge of his platoon mere days before deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he effectively led his platoon through five months of combat,” the report read. “He planned and executed platoon operations ranging from air assault raids to the defense of a forward operating base (FOB).”
Under Hegseth’s leadership, his platoon “cleared areas around FOB Falcon suspected of insurgent activity and denied their use to the Anti-Iraqi Forces” and “also conducted an air assault, high-value target raid in which they captured an Al Qaeda in Iraq cell leader,” the report said.
Hegseth and his troops moved north to Samarra, Iraq, where “he effectively transitioned his platoon to continuous offensive operations” and conducted nine days of continuous combat outposts, nine days of patrolling and numerous time-sensitive missions, among other things.
Hegseth “is more than capable to operate independently, controlling not only his squads but also air support, indirect fire support and other external combat support assets,” his evaluators wrote.
Reporting by Fox News’s Danielle Wallace and Breanne Deppisch.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, laying out a bevy of accusations and about 100 questions that she expects him to answer at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, penned the 33-page letter last week to Hegseth. It describes why she thinks he is “unfit” to serve, referring to him at one point in the letter as “an insider threat” due to a tattoo Hegseth has that Warren claims is tied to “right-wing extremism.”
“Your confirmation as Secretary of Defense would be detrimental to our national security and disrespect a diverse array of servicemembers who are willing to sacrifice for our country,” Warren writes in the letter. “I am deeply concerned by the many ways in which your behavior and rhetoric indicates that you are unfit to lead the Department of Defense.”
The letter starts off with accusations against Hegseth that include claims of financial mismanagement during his work operating two nonprofits, and accusations of heavy drinking and sexual assault.
This is an excerpt of an aricle by Alec Schemmel
Fox News correspondent Madeleine Rivera is live at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the confirmation hearing for Trump Defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegesth, which kicks off at 9:30 AM.
Hegseth is expected to face tough questions today from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who will grill him over his qualifications, his ability to lead the federal government’s largest agency, and his previous comments on diversity in the military.
Senate Republicans hold a 53 to 47 majority in the chamber, allowing him to pass confirmation without a single Democratic vote—so the vote will likely be seen as an early test of how well the GOP can unify.
New Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana laced into Democrats last week over what he said are attempts to delay confirmation hearings for Trump nominees, in particular that of the Department of Defense pick Pete Hegseth, Fox News Digital first reported.
Banks urged Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., to move forward with Hegseth’s scheduled confirmation hearing today as planned and not to be swayed by Democrats’ requests.
“As you are aware, Senators who are going to oppose the Hegseth nomination no matter what are seeking to delay and deny President Trump his Secretary of Defense being confirmed quickly. If they are successful, this will harm America’s national security during the crucial transition of power later this month,” he wrote to Wicker.
The Republican’s letter came after fellow committee member, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., sent his own correspondence to Wicker, arguing the committee needed more information and documentation from the nominee to properly consider him.
“I am deeply concerned that the Senate Armed Services Committee is considering the nomination of Pete Hegseth for this critically significant position without full information regarding his capacity and experience to lead our military and steward a budget of nearly $850 billion,” Blumenthal said, referencing allegations that Hegseth mismanaged finances while leading a veterans’ nonprofit.
Read more about Banks’ letter from Julia Johnson.
Trump senior adviser Jason Miller joined “Fox & Friends” to weigh in ahead of Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing for defense secretary on Tuesday, saying the incoming Trump administration will bring the focus back to defending America.
Miller argued that Hegseth will “kill them with kindness” when asked about how President-elect Trump’s nominee will handle aggressive questioning from Democratic senators.
Hegseth is the first of Trump’s cabinet nominees to face a confirmation hearing in the Senate. Fellow nominees Doug Collins and Doug Burgum were scheduled for Tuesday, but their hearings were pushed back due to delays in their background checks.
President-elect Trump reaffirmed his support for Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth on Tuesday as the former Fox News host prepares for a heated confirmation hearing.
“Pete Hegseth will make a GREAT Secretary of Defense. He has my Complete and Total support. Good luck today, Pete!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Hegseth will be the first of Trump’s controversial change agent picks to face questioning from lawmakers. Republicans can be expected to play defense, framing Hegseth as a decorated combat veteran who will hold the military accountable after years of failed audits and DEI initiatives.
Democrats, meanwhile, are expected to highlight reports of Hegseth’s alcohol abuse and his treatment of women.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is accusing Democrats of “delaying and obstructing” top energy nominees for President-elect Trump’s incoming administration, Fox News Digital first reported Friday.
“Senate Democrats are once again showing that delaying and obstructing the incoming Trump administration are their top priorities,” Lee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
“Both Gov. Doug Burgum and Chris Wright’s paperwork has been submitted to the Office of Government Ethics from their respective agencies. The confirmation process is moving forward as it should, and good progress has been made to ensure these nominees are thoroughly vetted and ready to serve. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has followed every rule in noticing their confirmation hearings.”
“This is the same party that, in 2009, went ahead with hearings for President Obama’s nominees under near identical circumstances. While Democrats drag their feet, Republicans are moving forward and doing the work the American people expect us to do. It’s time for Senate Democrats to meet the moment with the seriousness it demands.”The Utah Republican was responding to claims from his Democratic counterpart on the committee, ranking member Martin Heinrich, who suggested that his scheduling of confirmation hearings for CEO and founder of Liberty Energy Chris Wright, Trump’s pick for secretary of energy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice for secretary of the interior, breached protocol.”
Read more about Sen. Mike Lee’s response by Julia Johnson.
Two former Navy SEALs are planning to bring hundreds of veterans to Washington, D.C., this week to march in support of Pete Hegseth’s confirmation for defense secretary, Fox News Digital first reported.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guardsman, will take the hot seat before the Armed Services Committee for a hearing today ahead of a confirmation vote.
The group, organized by Bill Brown and Rob Sweetman, is planning to pack “as many veterans into the hearing room” as possible. They plan to have veterans line up outside the building where the Senate hearing will take place, hours before the building opens and the hearing kicks off at 9:30 a.m.
A group of veterans will also meet at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 9 a.m. to march in support of Hegseth. Brown is inviting all veterans to bring American flags and join their group.
“There’s something really powerful about having a physical presence of support, other than just social media,” said Sweetman. His organization, 62Romeo, helps veterans transitioning out of the military get their sleep back on track and is helping to sponsor the event.
Sweetman expects at least 100 SEALs to join and hundreds of other veterans.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., instructed his caucus not to hold back when it comes to confirmation hearings beginning this week for some of President-elect Trump’s nominees for top roles.
During last week’s caucus lunch, Schumer said these hearings will be an opportunity for them to grill Trump’s choices and ask them questions about the incoming president’s agenda, a Senate Democratic source told Fox News Digital.
In particular, the Democratic leader told his party that they should press nominees on how they specifically will help carry out some of the items Trump pledged to do during the campaign, the source said.
As both parties compete for working-class Americans, who have been key deciding votes in the past several elections, Schumer and Democrats believe the confirmation hearings are a prime opportunity to put Trump’s selections on the record on crucial issues that matter to this group, according to the source.
Additionally, Democrats are not planning on holding back when it comes to the backgrounds of nominees, they added. The caucus could use this time as a chance to lay the groundwork for any future blunders from Trump appointees, in which case they could say they warned colleagues early on.
Confirmation hearings will kick off on Tuesday with Doug Collins being considered at 9 a.m. to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs. Pete Hegseth’s hearing to be Trump’s Defense secretary will follow at 9:30 a.m.
Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth says his top priority after confirmation by the Senate will be to restore a “warrior ethos” at the Pentagon.
Hegseth listed the mission alongside two other priorities in his prepared remarks for Tuesday’s Senate confirmation hearing. He also seeks to “rebuild our military” and “reestablish deterrence.”
“This includes reviving our defense industrial base, reforming the acquisition process, modernizing our nuclear triad, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies,” Hegseth will say, according to Axios.
With regard to deterrence, Hegseth is expected to say that, “First and foremost, we will defend our homeland…Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the communist Chinese. Finally, we will responsibly end wars to ensure we can prioritize our resources — and reorient to larger threats. We can no longer count on ‘reputational deterrence’ — we need real deterrence.”
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, is set to defend his nomination before Senators at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Hegseth’s prepared remarks, first obtained by Axios, show Hegseth plans to establish himself as an outsider pick who wants to restore a “warrior ethos” to the Department of Defense.
“It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years,” Hegseth is expected to say. “But, as President Trump also told me, we’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly ‘the right credentials’ — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us?”
“He believes, and I humbly agree, that it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives,” his remarks continue.
Hegseth’s remarks also call for imposing “equal” standards for all members of the military, though he draws a distinction between equal and “equitable.”
Republicans will hold confirmation hearings this week for more than a dozen high-profile administration picks for President-elect Trump’s next term, including those for Pete Hegseth, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D.
Hegseth, Trump’s Secretary of Defense pick, will have one of the first hearings on Tuesday, when he will go before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m. and face questions from both Democrats and Republicans.
Rubio and Noem were tapped by Trump to be his Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, respectively. Noem will appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday at 9 a.m., while Rubio is set to face the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations at 10 a.m.
Other Tuesday hearings include those for Doug Collins to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Secretary of the Interior.
Trump also chose Pam Bondi for attorney general, John Ratcliffe to direct the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation and Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy. Hearings for each of them will be on Wednesday.
Eric Turner, who Trump tapped to be his next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Scott Bessent, whom the president-elect announced as his pick to lead the Treasury Department, have hearings scheduled for Thursday.
The hearing blitz comes as Republicans prepare to confirm as many Trump nominees as they can, as quickly as they can.
Read more about Schumer’s directive by Julia Johnson.
