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Duckworth Slams Trump's Defense Nominee Hegseth as Unqualified, Opposes Women in Combat

Nov 24, 2024, 03:24 PM

President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense has sparked controversy due to sexual assault allegations and criticisms of his qualifications and views. Hegseth, a 44-year-old retired military officer and former Fox News host, was investigated in 2017 for alleged sexual assault, with police reports recently made public. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois and a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who lost both legs in combat, has strongly opposed Hegseth's nomination. She described him as 'inordinately unqualified' and 'a pretty low-ranking guy in the military,' arguing that he lacks the experience to lead an organization of over 3 million servicemen and women with a $900 billion budget. Duckworth also criticized Hegseth's opposition to women serving in combat roles, stating that 'he's wrong. Women have made us more effective.' While Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have rallied around Hegseth, emphasizing his commitment to merit-based hiring and traditional military values, Democrats view his appointment as an insult to the Department of Defense. Hegseth is known for advocating a more aggressive military stance, as outlined in his book 'The War on Warriors,' where he calls for 'more lethality, less lawyers' and aims to reduce what he sees as 'progressive politics' in the military.