Secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth accused the media of orchestrating a “coordinated smear campaign” against him as he spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, marking the first step in his contentious confirmation process.
Democrats and some Republicans have expressed doubts about the 44-year-old’s ability to serve as secretary of defense, which would have him overseeing more than 3 million military and civilian personnel around the world and an $800 billion annual budget.
Hegseth has been plagued by accusations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and sexism. He has admitted to paying an undisclosed amount to a woman who accused him of sexual assault at a Republican conference in Monterey, Calif., allegations that Hegseth denies.
Inside a packed Senate hearing room filled to the brim with spectators, Hegseth pushed back vigorously against critics worried about his lack of credentials and past allegations of personal misconduct.
Given a chance to respond to the allegations, the former Fox News host torched the media, saying reporters relied on a “small handful of anonymous sources” to write negative stories about him.
“All they were out to do was destroy me,” Hegseth said, arguing that the left-wing media doesn’t care about the truth.
Ranking Member Jack Reed (D., RI) said he does not believe Hegseth is qualified to run the Pentagon and cited the “alarming” public allegations against Hegseth. Reed said Hegseth’s conduct would disqualify him from being a service member, much less the head of the DOD. Reed voiced concerns about Hegseth’s opposition to diversity in the military and disdain for international law. Reed considers Hegseth to be an overly partisan choice for the job and argued that he will inject politics into the service.
Hegseth emphasized the broken military establishment and the need to restore the “warrior ethos” if he is confirmed. To begin his hearing, he celebrated his current wife for changing his life and gave glory to Jesus Christ. He devoted his testimony to the veterans watching and those in the room supporting him, before going through his list of priorities for the Pentagon.
Portraying himself as a “change agent,” Hegseth pledged to prioritize the rank and file first and foremost, citing his military experience.
Hegseth served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan but has limited management experience. He was, however, described as an incredibly talented, battle-proven leader,” during his service, according to a copy of military evaluations obtained by Fox News.
“It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to Defense secretaries of the last 30 years,” Hegseth said in his opening statement. “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.”
Senator Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), the chairman of the Armed Service Committee, began the hearing by warning about the perilous geopolitical environment the incoming Trump administration is set to grapple with. He acknowledged the challenges the civilian leaders in the Pentagon have faced, including programs running behind schedule and a “risk-averse” Pentagon culture related to defense technology.
The Pentagon has also failed seven straight audits as its bureaucracy continues to expand. Critics of the Pentagon have pointed to the department’s embrace of progressive ideology as a sign that reform is desperately needed.
Wicker acknowledged Hegseth’s unconventional nomination, likening him to Trump, and suggested that Hegseth will be a relentless leader focused on shaking things up and emphasizing the rank and file. He also sought to contrast the anonymous nature of the allegations against Hegseth compared to the public expressions of support from many of Hegseth’s former colleagues.
Hegseth has received support from a number of Republicans after holding meetings with many lawmakers on the hill in recent weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) said he is “hopeful” about Hegseth’s chances of confirmation, while Senator John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) called him “very qualified” for the job on Sunday.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who early on expressed reservations about Hegseth as an Army Reserve veteran and sexual assault survivor herself, has said she had “really good discussions” with the nominee and was encouraged by his vows to support female service members and to address sexual assault in the military.
But moderate Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said they still have concerns about the nominee’s record.
Hegseth will need approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee before he can advance to a vote from the full Senate on his nomination.
The National Guard veteran is the first of Trump’s controversial nominees to sit before a bipartisan panel of senators.