Ex-Fox News host Pete Hegseth called for the return of “American warriors” in his opening statement as he is grilled by the Senate ahead of his likely confirmation as Defense Secretary.
The 44-year-old veteran faced questions about his lack of management experience, his alleged heavy drinking, as well as his previous opposition to women serving in combat roles in the military.
When asked about accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman in a California hotel room in 2017 — something he has denied — he blamed a “smear campaign” propagated by “left-wing” media and based on anonymous sources.
“We are not Republicans or Democrats — we are American warriors. Our standards will be high, and they will be equal,” he told the bipartisan panel of senators in his opening statement.
His confirmation hearing comes hours after President-elect Donald Trump blasted special counsel Jack Smith over a landmark report that found Trump tried to criminally overturn the 2020 election.
Smith said Trump “inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence” in the January 6 Capitol riot and knowingly spread a false narrative about fraud in the 2020 election.
Watch: Hegseth then vs Hegseth now
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 20:30
Why didn’t Jack Smith charge Trump with insurrection?
Why wasn’t Donald Trump ever charged with the crime of insurrection?
It’s a question that has been looming over the federal prosecution of the president-elect, with his allies and supporters using the fact that he wasn’t to downplay the charges against him as well as the January 6 attack itself.
Why didn’t Jack Smith charge Trump with insurrection?
Evidence shows Trump ‘caused and benefited’ from the violent attack. The law and the country weren’t prepared for a case showing how a sitting president, not an outside force, could be responsible, Alex Woodward reports
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 20:25
Why did Trump pick Hegseth as his nominee for defense?
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 20:10
Watch: Thune says Hegseth ‘acquitted himself extremely well’
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 20:00
Watch: Hegseth challenged over waterboarding
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 19:50
Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg to attend Trump’s inauguration together
All three have been trying to get into Trump’s good books within the past year, with Musk donating hundreds of millions of dollars to help Trump win the 2024 election.
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 19:30
COMMENT: Teflon Trump has dodged justice – it’s time for the rest of us to get on board
Who doesn’t love a proper bombshell report? And the report from the special counsel, Jack Smith, into Donald Trump’s attempt to illegally steal the 2020 election is utterly devastating – and will surely land with a thud.
Except it won’t. There will barely be a murmur. There will be the faintest of ripples. It will create a crater no bigger than a measly British pothole.
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 19:10
Squirmy Pete Hegseth shredded by Senator Tim Kaine for cheating on the ‘mother’ of his child
During a wild and tense exchange on Tuesday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) spent nearly 10 minutes hammering an evasive Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth for cheating on his past wives and engaging in drunken behavior on the job.
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 19:02
Watch: Gillibrand says she doesn’t believe Hegseth can change how he sees women
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 18:50
Hegseth confirmation hearing adjourns
Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing adjourns after four hours and fifteen minutes.
Oliver O’Connell14 January 2025 18:47
