Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth dodged a question Tuesday about President-elect Donald Trump’s eagerness to absorb Greenland into the U.S., telling a Senate committee he would never get ahead of the commander in chief in public.

Mr. Trump hasn’t been shy about wanting to annex Greenland as a geographic asset in the Arctic region and refused to rule out military intervention when a reporter asked about Denmark’s ownership of the autonomous land between North America and Europe.

At the Senate confirmation hearing, Mazie Hirono, Hawaii Democrat, asked, “Would you use our military to take over Greenland or an ally of Denmark?”

“Senator, one of the things Mr. Trump is so good at is never strategically tipping his hand,” Mr. Hegseth said. “I would never in this public forum give — one way or another — direct [confirmation of] what orders the president would give to me in any context.”

“That sounds to me that you would contemplate such an order to basically invade Greenland — and take over the Panama Canal,” the senator said, referring to a second territory on Mr. Trump’s wish list.

Also Tuesday, Mr. Hegseth denied ever making unwanted requests for sexual favors or sexually harassing women.

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“No, senator,” Mr. Hegseth told Ms. Hirono, who asked pointed questions about accusations from women.

Ms. Hirono said Mr. Hegseth appeared to pay a woman so she would not pursue a complaint against him.

“I was falsely accused in October of 2017, it was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Mr. Hegseth said.

The Army combat veteran said left-wing media peddled stories about him being drunk at his Fox News job. The nominee has pledged not to drink while he’s secretary.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.