‘I’m victim of smears’, says Hegseth in showdown with senators
Donald Trump’s nominee as Defence Secretary has cast himself as a “change agent” as senators scrutinised his fitness to lead the world’s most powerful military.
Donald Trump’s nominee for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed to rebuild a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and root out “wokeness” in America’s military during a bruising Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, local time.
The 44-year-old army veteran was grilled about allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and his past views on women in combat roles as senators scrutinised his fitness to lead the world’s most powerful military.
The former Fox News host hit back, claiming he was the victim of a “smear campaign” and casting himself as a “change agent” who would overhaul the armed forces.
“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm,” Hegseth told the hearing.
He was the first of Trump’s cabinet picks to appear at a confirmation hearing and is among the most controversial.
Behind closed doors many Republicans are thought to be sceptical of Hegseth’s qualifications to oversee the Pentagon’s $US850bn budget and responsibility for more than three million civilian and military personnel, along with America’s nuclear arsenal.
Securing his confirmation in a full Senate vote is seen as a test of Trump’s total control of his party, however, as the president-elect prepares to return to the White House on Monday.
Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Hegseth about a string of lurid allegations, including an investigation for sexual assault in 2017 that has surfaced since Trump picked him to lead the Pentagon.
Hegseth was not charged in the case and paid the woman an undisclosed sum last year to settle what he claimed was a “nuisance lawsuit”.
“It was a false claim then, it’s a false claim now,” Hegseth told the committee.
Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said claims against Hegseth, including that he was often drunk at work, would “disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defence”.
Kirsten Gillibrand, the New York senator, questioned Hegseth’s past comments that women should “straight up” have no place in combat roles, a stance he has attempted to walk back on since his nomination.
Hegseth vowed to “get all the woke … political stuff out of the military”, warning that “accountability is coming” under Trump.
He remained calm and confident throughout, perhaps reflecting his belief that the committee’s 14 to 13 Republican majority backed him.
The most anticipated questioner was Joni Ernst, a Republican who was a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa National Guard.
Ernst, 54, is seen as the key swing vote because of her advocacy for women’s rights in the military.
She voiced concerns in December about the rape claims against Hegseth but then experienced a concerted backlash from the party base. However, from the outset of Ernst’s seven minutes of questioning, it was clear she was on board.
If confirmed, Hegseth could be tasked with implementing Trump’s demand for total loyalty from the military.
The president-elect has threatened to fire generals who pursue diversity policies.
Trump backed his nominee on social media ahead of the hearing, saying he had his “complete and total support”.
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