Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, faced a grueling confirmation hearing on Tuesday to become the next Secretary of Defense, and by the end of the day, he had managed to win over enough Senate Republicans to secure his confirmation. Hegseth’s toughest questions came from Democrats, who accused him of being unqualified for the job, but he was able to deflect their criticism by presenting himself as a “change agent” who would shake up the Pentagon.
The hearing was marked by tension as Hegseth struggled to answer questions on a range of issues, including his views on the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and East Asia. He was also pressed on his stance on diversity programs in the military and his views on the Geneva Conventions. Hegseth refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to seize control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, and he declined to apologize for past inflammatory remarks.
Despite the challenges he faced, Hegseth was able to win over some key Democratic senators, including Iowa’s Joni Ernst, who had previously expressed reservations about his nomination. Ernst announced that she would support Hegseth’s confirmation, a move that made it more likely that he would ultimately win the nomination.
Hegseth’s performance at the hearing was largely seen as disappointing, and many Democrats argued that he lacked the experience and qualifications needed to lead the Pentagon. However, Trump’s style of politics values loyalty and fealty to the president above all else, and Hegseth’s ability to defend the president and his policies made him a more appealing choice in the eyes of many Republican senators.
As the nomination advances, Hegseth’s qualifications will remain a topic of debate, but his ability to weather the storm of controversy and his willingness to defend Trump’s agenda may ultimately secure his confirmation.