President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, endured fierce Democratic grilling over everything from his inexperience, alleged drinking and his past opposition to women in combat to emerge largely unscathed among Republicans at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and decorated veteran, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defence and any vote to confirm him is expected to be very close.
But he weathered the four-hour hearing without making any major gaffe that might have alienated Republicans and even won critical backing from Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who holds sway in her party.
Several other committee Republicans, to laughter from a friendly audience packed with supporters wearing Hegseth hats, praised the 44-year-old, who has slammed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, and, in his latest book, questioned whether the top U.S. general has the job because he’s Black.
Asked if he would fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown, if he takes over the military, a possibility first reported by Reuters, Hegseth declined to rule it out, saying he would be carrying out a broad review.
“Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders they will be given,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth had strongly opposed women in combat roles but walked back that stance during the hearing.
A number of episodes have sparked concern, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth that did not result in charges and which he denies. He has also been accused of excessive drinking and financial mismanagement at veterans’ organisations. Hegseth has vowed to abstain from alcohol if confirmed and said he made financial errors but denied wrongdoing.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand slammed Hegseth’s past remarks about women, saying he would have to fundamentally change how he sees women who constitute 18% of the U.S. military.
“We have hundreds – HUNDREDS – of women who serve in the infantry, lethal members of our military … But you degrade them,” Gillibrand said in a heated exchange. Please explain these types of statements because they’re brutal, and they’re mean.”
Despite strong support from Trump’s Republicans, Hegseth’s confirmation will likely be by a narrow margin, compared with the 93-2 vote for President Joe Biden’s defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and 98-1 for Jim Mattis, Trump’s first nominee for the position.
After the hearing, Ernst, who pundits speculated could vote against Hegseth and perhaps convince others to do the same, said she supported Hegseth.
“Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said in a statement.
As Hegseth walked into the packed hearing room, he was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation, with chants of “USA, USA, USA” and a shout of “Get ’em, Petey.”
Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who leads the committee, endorsed Hegseth, calling him “unconventional,” and adding, “Regarding his personal conduct, Mr. Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time.”
