• Hegseth’s past controversies raise concerns among lawmakers.
• Donald Trump’s nominee declines to rule out firing top general.
• Nominee receives key support from Republican Senator Joni Ernst.
  

WASHINGTON: United States President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, endured fierce Democratic grilling over everything from his inexperience, alleged drinking and his past opposition to women in combat to emerge largely unscathed among Republicans at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and decorated veteran, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defence and any vote to confirm him is expected to be very close.

But he weathered the four-hour hearing without making any major gaffe that might have alienated Republicans and even won critical backing from Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who holds sway in her party.

Several other committee Republicans, to laughter from a friendly audience packed with supporters wearing Hegseth hats, praised the 44-year-old, who has slammed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, and, in his latest book, questioned whether the top US general has the job because he’s Black.

Asked if he would fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown, if he takes over the military, a possibility first reported by Reuters, Hegseth declined to rule it out, saying he would be carrying out a broad review.

“Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and commitment to lawful orders they will be given,” said Hegseth who had strongly opposed women in combat roles but walked back that stance during the hearing.

“I do not believe that you [Hegseth] are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” said Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

A number of episodes have sparked concern, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth that did not result in charges and which he denies.

Accused of excessive drinking and financial mismanagement at veterans’ organisations, Hegseth has vowed to abstain from alcohol if confirmed and said he made financial errors but denied wrongdoing.

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand slammed Hegseth’s past remarks about women, saying he would have to fundamentally change how he sees women who constitute 18% of the US military.

“We have hundreds — HUNDREDS — of women who serve in the infantry, lethal members of our military [….] But you degrade them,” Gillibrand said in a heated exchange.

“Please explain these types of statements because they’re brutal, and they’re mean,” added the senator

Despite strong support from Trump’s Republicans, Hegseth’s confirmation will likely be by a narrow margin, compared with the 93-2 vote for President Joe Biden’s defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and 98-1 for Jim Mattis, Trump’s first nominee for the position.

After the hearing, Ernst, who pundits speculated could vote against Hegseth and perhaps convince others to do the same, said she supported Hegseth.

“Our next commander in chief selected [Pete] Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a USSenator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defence,” Ernst said in a statement.

As Hegseth walked into the packed hearing room, he was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation, with chants of “USA, USA, USA” and a shout of “Get ’em, Petey”.

Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who leads the committee, endorsed Hegseth, calling him “unconventional,” and adding: “Regarding his personal conduct, Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time”.

Republican senators, including Markwayne Mullin and Tim Sheehy, strongly backed Hegseth. Mullin dismissed concerns about him, particularly his personal life, as political theatre.

“It’s all for show,” Mullin said.

‘Warrior culture’

Hegseth’s opening remarks, praising Trump, were repeatedly interrupted by protesters. He vowed to restore a “warrior culture” to the US military and said accountability was coming for those who fall short.

“Everyone from the top, from the most senior general to the most lowly private, [we] will ensure that they’re treated fairly,” said Hegseth.

When asked about remarks opposing women in combat, Hegseth cited the need to eliminate quotas for frontline roles. Gillibrand fired back that no such quotas exist.

During the hearing he told Ernst, herself a veteran, that he would support women in combat “given the standards remain high, and we will have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded”.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran who lost both legs during combat in Iraq, chided Hegseth over gaps in his knowledge of foreign policy and lack of management experience.

“You say you care about keeping our armed forces strong […] then let’s not lower the standards for you. You, sir, are a no-go at this station,” said Duckworth.

In a 2021 incident first reported by Reuters, Hegseth was branded an “insider threat” by a fellow member of the Army National Guard over his tattoos. Hegseth noted the incident during the hearing, which led him to be pulled from Guard duty in Washington during Biden’s inauguration.

In recent weeks, Trump’s party has coalesced around his pick.

Still, the slim Republican Senate majority means that Hegseth can lose support from no more than three senators to be confirmed if Democrats and independents unite against him.

Cabinet nominees almost never lose Senate votes. The last nominee who was defeated was former Senator John Tower, a nominee to be Secretary of Defence, in 1989. Tower was investigated over claims of drunkenness and inappropriate behaviour with women.

If confirmed, Hegseth could make good on Trump’s promises to rid the military of generals he accuses of pursuing progressive diversity policies.

The next secretary of defence faces huge challenges, including active conflicts in Ukraine and the expansion of China’s military, which received only glancing attention during a hearing focused far more on culture war issues.

The committee is expected to vote on Hegseth’s nomination as soon as Monday, the day of Trump’s inauguration, paving the way for his consideration by the full Senate.