Under Intense Questioning, President-Elect Donald Trump's Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Stays Unshaken

Under Intense Questioning, President-Elect Donald Trump's Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Stays Unshaken

Washington: Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Defense Secretary under President-Elect Donald Trump, remained unshaken on Tuesday as he faced tough questioning from Democratic senators during his Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Confronted with questions regarding his views on women's participation in the military and serious allegations of misconduct, Hegseth claimed his innocence and referred to it as a coordinated smear campaign.

The former Fox News host Hegseth stated that he intended to remove the so-called 'woke' policies from the Department of Defense and focus on enhancing combat readiness. Despite Democratic senators raising concerns about his past, he avoided the issues and dismissed the allegations as baseless.

At the end of the hearing, after friendly questions from former Navy SEAL Senator Tim Sheehy, Hegseth and his supporters shook hands and embraced. As he exited the committee room, Hegseth was greeted with applause.

The allegations against Hegseth include misogynistic remarks, managerial failures, and accusations of drinking on the job. While Democratic senators harshly criticized him for these issues, Hegseth presented himself as honest and impartial.

On Wednesday, hearings for other important nominees by Trump are scheduled, including those for positions at the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Transportation, as well as the CIA and the White House Office of Management and Budget.