Few cabinet nominees are getting more scrutinized than Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.
During a contentious confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Hegseth faced intense questioning from Democratic senators over his leadership experience and a reversal on allowing women to serve in combat roles. Republicans, in contrast, expressed strong backing, with several senators offering handshakes and words of encouragement after the proceedings. The hearing highlighted a stark partisan divide over Hegseth’s qualifications and positions.
To make sense of all this drama, Katie turned to politics and security journalist Kevin Baron. “I’ve covered eight or nine [secretary of defense confirmation hearings], and I can’t recall a hearing like this for any of them because there’s never been a nominee like this,” Baron told her live on Instagram following the hearing. “He’s so beyond what you would expect from a qualified government servant — people like Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel, who were members of Congress or worked at the White House, or Bob Gates, a lifelong intelligence [and] security White House CIA leader.”
“He’s a Fox media personality — a barstool — and a former vet who’s now been put in a seat of just unbelievable power and attention,” he continued.
During the hearing, Hegseth also faced sharp scrutiny over accusations of sexual assault, which he has unequivocally denied. The tension peaked during a heated exchange with Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who pressed him on the issue. Hegseth defended himself, stating, “I was falsely charged, fully investigated, and completely cleared.”
Kaine fired back, challenging Hegseth’s characterization of the situation: “So you think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime. That’s your definition of cleared. You had just fathered a child two months before by a woman who was not your wife. I am shocked that you would stand here and say you’re completely cleared.”
This tense exchange seemed to further highlight concerns about his personal conduct and judgment. Baron pointed out that, as the next secretary of defense, Hegseth could potentially undo years of bipartisan progress in addressing the military’s persistent issue of sexual assault. According to Defense Department data, there were an estimated 35,900 cases in 2021 and approximately 29,000 military personnel assaulted in 2023. However, a recent Brown University study suggests that the actual numbers could be two to four times higher than government estimates.
“Of course, this matters, and it matters in the U.S. military where sexual assault has been [an issue,]” Baron said. “And members of Congress, like Kirsten Gillibrand, have been trying for years to change the code of military justice to make it harder to excuse leaders who are accused of sexual assault, give more protections for troops, give more avenues for coming forward. So this is an active issue that he would be at [the forefront of] if he were confirmed.”
When does the Senate vote on Pete Hegseth?
As for next steps, the Senate is expected to vote on Hegseth and other nominees shortly after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. With the Republican majority in the Senate, Hegseth’s confirmation is likely but not certain.
For more on other concerns about Hegseth’s background and a glimpse of what the Pentagon might look like under his leadership, watch the rest of Katie’s interview with Baron in the video above.
