By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, came under fire during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday as Democrats voiced deep concern about his inexperience, alleged drunkenness and past opposition to women in combat.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defense and any vote to confirm him is expected to be very close.
But he emerged from the four-hour hearing largely unscathed, having avoided any gaffe that might have alienated Republicans.
Several committee Republicans, to laughter from a friendly audience packed with supporters in 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 chair 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.
“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” said Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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’ organizations. 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 defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, and 98-1 for Jim Mattis, Trump’s first nominee for the position.
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.”
Republican senators, including Markwayne Mullin and Tim Sheehy, strongly backed Hegseth. Mullin dismissed concerns about him, particularly his personal life, as political theater.
“It’s all for show,” Mullin said.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING
Hegseth’s opening remarks, praising Trump, were repeatedly interrupted by protesters. He vowed to restore a “warrior culture” to the U.S. military and said accountability was coming for those who fall short.
“Everyone from the top, from the most senior general to the most lowly private, (we) will ensure that they’re treated fairly,” Hegseth said.
When asked about remarks opposing women in combat, Hegseth cited the need to eliminate quotas for frontline roles. Gillibrand fired back that no such quotas exist.
He told Republican Senator Joni Ernst, herself a veteran, that he would support women in combat “given the standards remain high, and we will have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded.”
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran who lost both legs during combat in Iraq, chided Hegseth over gaps in his knowledge of foreign policy and lack of management experience.
“You say you care about keeping our armed forces strong … then let’s not lower the standards for you. You sir, are a no-go at this station,” Duckworth said.
In a 2021 incident first reported by Reuters, Hegseth was branded an “insider threat” by a fellow member of the Army National Guard over his tattoos. Hegseth noted the incident during the hearing, which led him to be pulled from Guard duty in Washington during Biden’s inauguration.
In recent weeks, Trump’s party has coalesced around his pick.
Still, the slim Republican Senate majority means that Hegseth can lose support from no more than three senators to be confirmed, if Democrats and independents unite against him.
Cabinet nominees almost never lose Senate votes. The last nominee who was defeated was former Senator John Tower, a nominee to be Secretary of Defense, in 1989. Tower was investigated over claims of drunkenness and inappropriate behavior with women.
If confirmed, Hegseth could make good on Trump’s promises to rid the military of generals he accuses of pursuing progressive diversity policies.
The next secretary of defense faces huge challenges, including active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the expansion of China’s military, which received only glancing attention during a hearing focused far more on culture war issues.
The committee is expected to vote on Hegseth’s nomination as soon as Monday, the day of Trump’s inauguration, paving the way for his consideration by the full Senate.
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