Two GOP senators expressed confidence that Pete Hegseth will secure the votes needed to be confirmed as the next U.S. defense secretary following a contentious hearing on Tuesday.
Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., appeared on “The Ingraham Angle” to discuss Hegseth’s path to joining President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
“I have no doubt that Pete will be confirmed, and I anticipate solid support from all Republicans, both men and women,” Mullin stated. “I believe he is the right choice for the position, and President Trump made a great decision in selecting him as the next defense secretary.”
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Pete Hegseth, military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and US secretary of defense nominee for US President-elect Donald Trump, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)
Mullin also commended Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, for supporting Hegseth after initially expressing doubts due to his remarks on women in combat and allegations of sexual misconduct, which Hegseth denies.
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The former “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host stated in a podcast that the U.S. “should not have women in combat roles.”
“It hasn’t improved our effectiveness. It hasn’t made us more lethal. It has only complicated fighting,” he said on the “Shawn Ryan Show.”
“I believe that Pete has the necessary votes for confirmation in the Senate,” Cotton told Laura Ingraham on Fox News. A vote is expected in the coming week.
“I hope that Democrats will not obstruct this nomination. If they wish to vote against him, that’s their choice, but President Trump deserves to have his defense secretary in place,” Cotton stated.
Cotton criticized the impact of “political correctness” and “social engineering” in the military, claiming it has adversely affected recruitment numbers and readiness.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, talks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 14, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Several Democratic senators questioned Hegseth about his leadership experience in running veteran nonprofit organizations, as well as alleged financial mismanagement during his tenure at Concerned Veterans for America and Veterans for Freedom.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., probed Hegseth on his qualifications and leadership experience, comparing the Senate Armed Services committee members to a board of directors.
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“I doubt there’s a board of directors anywhere that would hire you as a CEO with the level of experience listed on your resume,” Peters remarked.
