Trump’s appointee Pete Hegsett fired at women in a tough hearing

By Phil Stewart, Idrus Ali and Patricia Zangerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hughes, was deeply concerned in Tuesday’s confirmation hearings by Democrats about his inexperience, drunkenness and previous attacks on women.

A former Fox News host, Hegseth is one of the most controversial nominees for defense secretary, and any vote to confirm him is expected to be close.

But he emerged from the four-hour hearing unscathed, avoiding any gaffes that might have alienated Republicans.

To laughter from a friendly audience packed with several committee Republicans, supporters in Hegsett hats, the 44-year-old praised diversity, fairness and inclusiveness in the military and, in his recent book, called the U.S.’s largest number. The general has the job because he is black.

Asked whether he would fire the president’s chairman, Gen. C. K. Brown, if he took over the Army, Hegseth initially declined to rule, saying he would conduct an extensive review, according to Reuters.

“Each senior officer is evaluated based on decency, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders,” Heggs said.

Hegseth was strongly opposed to women in combat roles but retracted that position during the trial.

“I don’t believe Mr. Hegseth is qualified to meet the demands of this job,” said Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

A 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth has raised concerns, including one that did not result in and was dismissed. He was also accused of excessive drinking and poor financial management in veteran organizations. If convicted, Hegseth promised not to drink alcohol and said he had made financial mistakes but did not follow through.

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has hit back at Hughes’ past comments about women, arguing that they need to fundamentally change how they view women, who make up 18% of the U.S. military.

“We have hundreds — hundreds — of women serving in the infantry, the deadliest members of our military … and you humiliate them,” Gillibrand said in a heated speech.

“Please explain these types of statements because they are cruel.”

Despite strong support from Trump Republicans, Hughes’ confirmation was likely by a narrow margin, compared to 93-2 votes for President Joe Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and 98-1 for Trump’s first-choice Jim Mattis.

As Hegseth entered the packed courtroom, he was greeted by cheers and loud applause, chants of “USA, USA, USA” and “Get ’em, Petey.”

Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican who chairs the committee, endorsed Hegseth as “extraordinary” and added, “Mr. Hegseth admits to failings in his personal character, as we all do from time to time.”

Republican senators including Markwayne Mullin and Tim Sheehy strongly supported Hegseth. Mullin dismisses concerns about him, especially his personal life, as political theater.

“It’s all for show,” Mullin said.

Accountability is coming.

Hughes’ opening speech praising Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters. He has promised to restore a “warrior culture” to the U.S. military and is coming to account for those who lack it, he said.

“Everyone from the top, from the highest general down to the lowest private,[we]make sure they’re treated fairly,” Hegseth said.

Asked about comments against women in combat, Heggs cited the need to remove quotas on front-line roles. Gillibrand replied that there are no such quotas.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst said she supports the fight for a woman who is a veteran herself, “while the standards remain high and we will have a review to make sure the standards are not eroded.”

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs during the Iraq War, criticized Hegseth for his lack of knowledge of foreign policy and lack of administrative experience.

“You say you care about keeping our armed forces strong…then we’re not going to lower the standards for you. You, sir, are not going to this station,” Duckworth said.

In the year In an incident first reported by Reuters in 2021, Hegseth was labeled an “insider” by an Army National Guard member over his tattoo. Hegseth witnessed the incident during the trial, which led to his resignation as a security guard in Washington at Biden’s inauguration.

Trump’s party has been rallying around the polls in recent weeks.

Still, the thin Republican Senate means that Hegeth could lose the support of no more than three senators if Democrats and liberals join forces against him.

Cabinet nominees almost never lose a Senate vote. The last candidate to be defeated was former Senator John Tower, who ran for Secretary of Defense in 1989. Tower was investigated for drunkenness and inappropriate behavior among women.

If confirmed, Hegseth could carry out Trump’s promise to purge military generals who he accuses of pursuing a progressive diversity policy.

The next defense secretary will face major challenges, including active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and China’s military expansion, which will be discussed during his hearings on culture war issues. He got attention just by sight.

The committee is expected to vote on Hughes’ nomination on Monday, Trump’s inauguration day.