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Trump's Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Vows to Restore 'Warrior Culture' Amid Scrutiny at Confirmation Hearing

Jan 14, 2025, 02:45 PM

Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing as President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a 20-year veteran with two Bronze Stars and tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasized his intention to restore a "warrior culture" to the Pentagon. In his opening statement, he acknowledged that he is an unorthodox choice, stating, "I don't have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years... where has that gotten us?" He added, "My only special interest is the war fighter, deterring wars and, if called upon, winning wars." Hegseth pledged to focus on lethality, meritocracy, war fighting, accountability, and readiness, aiming to "root out woke policies" that he argues have compromised the military's effectiveness. President Trump publicly expressed his support for Hegseth ahead of the hearing. Senator Roger Wicker endorsed him during the proceedings, saying Hegseth would "inject a new warrior ethos into the Pentagon." Despite widespread support from Republican lawmakers and military veterans, Hegseth faced tough questioning from Senate Democrats over past allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse, financial mismanagement, and comments about women serving in combat roles.