As expected, the Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth got off to a wild start on Tuesday. Democrats and Republicans alike aggressively challenged President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, and far-left protesters occasionally interrupted proceedings because Naturally they are.
Unsurprisingly, Hegseth is facing pointed criticism from some female senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee for his various comments regarding women serving on the front lines in combat.
At the beginning of November, for example, Hegseth said in an interview: “…we shouldn’t have women in combat roles. It didn’t make us more effective. Didn’t make us deadlier. Made fighting more complicated.”
“Fathers push us to take risks. Mothers mount the training wheels on our bicycles. We need mothers. But not in the military, especially not in combat units,” Hegseth wrote in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors.”
SEE ALSO: Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing begins in 30 minutes, here’s what you need to know
One exchange from the hearing in particular attracted a lot of attention.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) appeared to be mostly faked about Hegseth’s past comments about women in the military as well as his opposition to the exploit of DEI/raised “standards” about actual readiness to promote and advance servicemen and women in the U.S. military:
Women, you have vilified. They have also denigrated members of the LGBTQ community. Did you know that with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, we lost so many key employees – over 1,000 in mission-critical areas? We have lost 10% of all our foreign language speakers due to political measures. You said in your statement that you don’t want politics in the Defense Department. Everything you have said in these public statements is political. “I don’t want women. I don’t want mothers.” By the way, what’s wrong with a mother? Once you have babies you can no longer be deadly? It’s a stupid statement – below the position sought.
It is a mistake to denigrate LGBTQ service members. If you’re a sniper, you’re deadly, regardless of your gender identity or who you love. Please understand this. They said this policy is political. They said they undermined us – social engineering. I don’t understand that allowing someone to say who they love, publicly or privately, is social engineering. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was highly problematic. Do you think everyone should be able to serve in the military if they meet the standards?
Here are a few clips. Watch as Hegseth listens to her calmly and doesn’t let herself get flustered, which makes her even angrier:
Senator Gillibrand is currently having a complete nervous breakdown over Pete Hegseth. pic.twitter.com/bEKSzWMBQB
– Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 14, 2025
Senator Gillibrand calls Pete Hegseth “mean.” pic.twitter.com/ladUG8RAL5
– Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 14, 2025
When given the opportunity to speak, Hegseth pointed out that he volunteered to serve in Afghanistan under Democratic President Barack Obama, contrary to Gillibrand’s belief that he would discriminate against men and women in the military based on their political and/or religious beliefs had and had volunteered to guard Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 – but was ironically “identified as an extremist by my own unit” because of his Christian tattoo:
Senator, I volunteered for a tour of duty in Afghanistan under Democratic President Barack Obama. I also volunteered to guard Joe Biden’s inauguration, but was denied the opportunity because I was identified as an extremist by my own unit because of a Christian tattoo.
Regard:
After five minutes of nails on the board, Gillibrand – Hegseth drops the boom 💥 pic.twitter.com/Hik9otxkan
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) January 14, 2025
Funnily enough, this was perhaps the most powerful thing Gillibrand said at the hearing, perhaps ever 😉
This may be the most powerful thing Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) has ever said. Wow! pic.twitter.com/722f12klXN
— Tony Kinnett (@TheTonus) January 14, 2025
Of course, there is much more to be said at Tuesday’s hearings. As always, stay tuned.
FLASHBACK: Ted Cruz responds accordingly to CNN’s Chris Cillizza, others whine about ‘woke’ military tweet
