Pete Hegseth faces grilling from Democrats at affirmation listening to as GOP senators voice help

Hegseth delivered a gap assertion to the committee, outlining his imaginative and prescient for the put up and arguing that his background — whereas it differs from earlier Pentagon leaders — is an asset. 

Hegseth doubled down on concepts he outlined in his e-book “Warfare on Warriors.” He stated, “when President Trump selected me for this place, the first cost he gave me was to deliver the warrior tradition again to the Division of Protection.”

“He, like me, needs a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, war-fighting, accountability and readiness,” Hegseth stated, as one other protester was escorted out of the listening to room.

“In the beginning, we are going to defend our homeland,” Hegseth stated, including that the U.S. can now not rely on “reputational deterrence.” 

“We’re not Republicans, we’re not democrats, we’re American warriors,” Hegseth stated. 

Hegseth recalled how he first joined the navy, saying he served with “unimaginable Individuals” in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. He stated when he “took off the uniform, my mission by no means stopped.”

Hegseth acknowledged that he would not have the biography of earlier protection secretaries, whereas saying that Trump believes “it is time to give somebody with mud on his boots the helm.”

“A change agent,” Hegseth continued. “Somebody with no vested curiosity in sure corporations or particular packages or authorized narratives.”

Hegseth stated his “solely particular curiosity is the warfighter, deterring wars,” and “profitable wars,” if known as upon, by guaranteeing “our warriors by no means enter a good struggle.”

“Like a lot of my era, I have been there,” Hegseth stated, detailing what he is seen on the battlefield. “This isn’t educational for me — that is my life.”

Hegseth inspired senators to ask those that know him of his observe file as a pacesetter, saying he would clarify the work he did at veterans organizations that has come beneath scrutiny. He known as the place that he is looking for “crucial deployment of my life,” pledging to government the president-elect’s imaginative and prescient.

“The president has given me a transparent imaginative and prescient, and I’ll execute,” he continued. “I’ve sworn an oath to the Structure earlier than, and — if confirmed — I’ll proudly do it once more.”