CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary appeared for his confirmation hearing Tuesday morning.
Pete Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, took a range of questions from both Republicans and Democrats. Democrats homed in on allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking.
“I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” said Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed.
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Republicans did their part to push back with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin leading that fight and addressing his fellow committee members directly.
“It is so ridiculous that you guys hold yourself to this higher standard and you forget you have a big plank in your eye,” said Mullin.
North Carolina’s Ted Budd seemed to stay out of the fray, focusing his questioning on recruitment.
“So if confirmed. how would you approach increasing the number of Americans eligible to serve in the military but without lowering standards?” asked Budd.
“The reality of obesity and criminal backgrounds and medical problems have long been an issue of recruitment in America, unfortunately. What changed is the perception of military service,” said Hegseth.
Budd also raised concerns about politicization of the Department of Defense, asking “Would you commit to working with my office to address the military recruiting crisis, and ensure the military is focused on warfighting?”
“We don’t want political ideology driving decisions inside our Defense Department. That was clear. It was an infection the American people are acutely aware of, which the men and women in this room have lived firsthand. I’ve lived it firsthand,” Hegseth replied.
Budd, who met with Hegseth back in December, said at the time that he supported Trump’s pick and the administration’s agenda, he called Hegseth an “impressive individual.”
North Carolina’s Senior Senator, Thom Tillis told Breitbart he would vote for Hegseth if the Republican-controlled Senate committee gave the nominee a favorable report. The expectation is for the committee and the full Senate to vote on the nomination early next week as Trump will take office on Monday.
