Two GOP senators said they believe Pete Hegseth will get the votes needed to be confirmed as the next US Secretary of Defense after a contentious hearing on Tuesday.
Sens. Markwayne Mullen, R-Oklahoma, and Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, join “The Ingraham Angle” to share their opinions Hegseth track reviews To become part of President-elect Donald Trump's government.
“I believe, without a doubt, that Pete will be confirmed, and I believe that you will have strong support from all Republicans, men and women alike,” Mullen said. He added: “I believe he is the right person for this job, and President Trump has done a great job selecting him to be the next Secretary of Defense.”
The top 5 moments from Pete Hegseth's Senate confirmation hearing
Pete Hegseth, a military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)
Mullen also praised his fellow Republican, that it. Joni Ernstof Iowa, for supporting Hegseth after initially appearing skeptical of his nomination due to his statements about women in combat and allegations of sexual misconduct. Hegseth denies these accusations.
The former Fox & Friends Weekend host said in a podcast in early November that the United States “shouldn't have women in combat roles.”
“It didn't make us more effective. It didn't make us more lethal. It made the fight more complicated,” he said on an episode of “The Sean Ryan Show.”
Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor, met with Hegseth several times before the attack Confirmation hearing Before offering her support for Trump's choice to lead the Pentagon on Tuesday evening.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images)
Cotton told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he believes Hegseth has the votes needed Confirmed by the Senate. The vote is expected to take place sometime next week.
“I hope Democrats don't delay or obstruct this nomination,” Cotton said. “If they want to vote against it, that's fine, but President Trump deserves to have his secretary of defense properly in office.”
He criticized the damage done by “political correctness” and “social engineering” that “corrupts” the military.
“Maybe the recruiting numbers are down to the point that we're having a recruiting crisis and that's hurting readiness. Look, our Soldiers don't deserve their pronouns on their ID cards. They don't need to do concession tours. They don't.” You do not have to undergo repeated training courses about Diversity, equity and inclusion“What they deserve,” Cotton continued, “is serious, realistic training to help prepare them to defend this nation in wartime. The kind of training that Pete Hegseth has conducted and runs.”
The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington on March 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Szymanski)
Several Democratic senators grilled Hegseth about his experience running two veteran nonprofits and his Alleged financial mismanagement During his time in Concerned Veterans for America and Veterans for Freedom.
Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan, pressed the military veteran about his qualifications and experience in leadership positions.
“We're basically hiring you to be the CEO of one of the largest, most complex organizations in the world. We're the board of directors here,” Peters said, referring to his team. Senate Armed Services Committee peers.
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He added: “I don't think there's a board in America that could hire you as a CEO with the experience you have on your resume.”
