Following weeks of relentless slanders, smears, and attempted character assassinations from Democrats and corporate media entities, Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the 29th Secretary of Defense, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Under immense pressure, he delivered a masterful performance in which he convincingly sold himself as an America First stalwart capable of bringing much-needed and long-overdue reform to the Pentagon.
“The Defense Department under Donald Trump will achieve peace through strength. And in pursuing these America First national security goals, we will remain patriotically apolitical and stridently constitutional,” Hegseth said in his opening statement. “Unlike the current administration, politics should play no part in military matters. We are not Republicans or Democrats—we are American warriors.”
Hegseth stressed that under his direction, leaders “at all levels” at the Department of Defense (DOD) will be held accountable. “And warfighting and lethality—and the readiness of the troops and their families—will be our only focus,” he continued.
In response to accusations from Democrats and the left-wing media apparatus that Hegseth lacks the credentials and qualifications customarily held by Secretaries of Defense, Hegseth echoed Trump’s calls for a “change agent” at the Department of Defense.
“It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the last 30 years,” Hegseth said. “But, as President Trump also told me, we’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly ‘the right credentials’—whether they are retired generals, academics, or defense contractor executives—and where has it gotten us? He believes, and I humbly agree, that it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm.”
Hegseth outlined what his three priorities would be if he ultimately ascended to the top post at the Pentagon: a restoration of the “warrior ethos,” rebuilding the military and our defense industrial base, and re-establishing the principle of deterrence in our foreign and military policy.
“The President has given me a clear vision, and I will execute. I’ve sworn an oath to the Constitution before, and—if confirmed—will proudly do it again. This time, for the most important deployment of my life,” he concluded.
Predictably, Hegseth faced a firestorm of defamatory questioning from Democrats on the Armed Service Committee, who resurfaced debunked allegations against him and devolved into nasty personal attacks designed to distract from Hegseth’s qualifications for the job.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), for instance, flew into a tizzy of moral outrage regarding Hegseth’s alleged conduct during his previous marriages and relationships—going so far as to use Hegseth’s seven-year-old daughter as a political prop.
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) launched a series of “gotcha” questions against Hegseth, taking aim at his supposed lack of qualifications.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand went on a tirade about Hegseth’s previous comments on women in combat roles, castigating Hegseth as “mean.”
Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) vigorously questioned Hegseth about his drinking habits, absurdly implying that Hegseth would drink “on the job”—a favorite Democrat tactic going back to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings in 2018.
In a now-viral moment during Hegseth’s questioning, Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) blasted Senate Democrats for their rampant hypocrisy. “How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign from their job?” He continued: “How many senators do you know have gotten a divorce for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down?”
Mullin continued: “It is so ridiculous that you guys hold yourselves to this higher standard, and you forget you’ve got a big plank in your eye.”
Republican senators on the committee, on the other hand, only asked questions of Hegseth that concerned issues concerning the military itself—including the mounting recruiting crisis, infrastructure problems, the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and wokeism in the military—further calling attention to the left’s utter lack of concern for U.S. military preparedness, strength on the world stage, and our national security needs.
Hegseth sharply and collectedly outlined plans to usher in a surge in military recruiting, reinvigorate the American shipbuilding industry, and purge the so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” ideology from the halls of the DOD.
Despite Democrats’ attempts to shatter his character and his credibility, Hegseth’s performance and commitment to reforming the Pentagon—and his qualifications for serving as America’s chief military official—were indisputable.
With the Biden-Harris era now almost fully in the rearview mirror, the importance of a strong and mission-oriented U.S. military has never been more apparent. As this week’s hearings demonstrated, a military focused on lethality rather than imposing a left-wing agenda is essential to safeguarding our homeland, maintaining global stability, and restoring American leadership on the world stage.
To secure these priorities, every American who cares about our national security should hope that Hegseth is confirmed without delay.
Aaron Flanigan is a contributor to AMAC Newsline.
Hegseth took on the worst of the left and smartly trounced them.
Notice how they slurked off camera like the shaking goblins they have become?
Anyone else notice how increasingly hostile and intolerant the Democrats have become? This demon possessed collective now justifies any low to keep their evil fingernails in power.
They are
Since the failed obama biden disasters have been overthrown by voters, the left’s persona in public is noticeably different: Distressed without any center focus but to lividly scream out innuendo and name calling. Not a good recipe for winning back voter support.
Democrats attempting to take the moral high ground.
To put it in the vernacular:
Hahahahaha – (deep breath) – HAHAHAHA!!!!!
Now that’s funnier and more ridiculous than a Stephen Colbert monlologue.
The U. S. Department of Defense has never won a war. The U. S. War Department never lost one. Anyone think there’s a correlation between purposes and victories?
The few snippets I watched on Fox showed him handling the hearing quite well. 44 generals now when we only had 7 in WW2? Wow, bet a LOT of generals are dusting off their retirement plans right about now!! Hopefully they can be “fired” more easily than regular government works who refuse to come back to the office. Hope he gets confirmed quickly!!!
Watching the hearing, It Seem’s like it is unfair the Demonrats are embarrassing themselves with their stupid questions, they want to make sure that President Trump and his people don’t do anything like Stupid Biden and the weasels di, Hegseth knocked it out of the park and the Demonrats don’t know what hit them!
God Bless America!
Test my axiom for accuracy: everything the left says or does weakens the country. They are at their most vitriolic when facing someone who will strengthen the country.
For those who call themselves democrats this new reality is a survival show. It is not about the country ant it’s future, or the economy and voters, it is a fight for their own place at the trove. Save yourself any which way, do whatever it takes to not get knocked out.
The left can only use personal attacks and lies because they have nothing else. Pete will be a great DOD appointment and I support him 100%
Hegseth will be confirmed. Next Up in importance and obstruction for the democRats is Kash Patel.
Elections, Confirmations, Implementation, …. Appearances are that the MAGA Wave is washing over the demoncrazy democRats and opposition rinoRats.
I expect “Other” Actions outside the “political” sparring in the coming days. weeks, months. There are severe Economic issues, as well as severe Social issues manifesting in the Illegal Invasion Consequences.
Stay Alert, especially in cities, but no one and no place can be considered exempt of these consequences.
It was very clear that what took place at this hearing was all scripted beforehand by someone who choreographed this entire ridiculous display of Leftist totalitarianism. The goal was not to ask REAL questions and to get REAL answers. The goal was to make Hegseth lose his composure and say things that could be used to disqualify him. You know how desperate the Left really is when they have to use methods like this. The Left has been working hard for decades to take over this nation and turn it into a dictatorship using whatever slimy methods they must, including stealing elections, and flooding the country with illegals, and turning our cities into crime-ridden hellholes, and turning their Brownshirts loose to cause mayhem and destruction. Despite it all, they still lost this election and they just cannot accept it. Expect them to ramp up the violence and criminality in an effort to topple the legitimate government. There is 200+ years of history to show the Left’s methods in action and back up my prediction.
For all Americans, the equation should really be very simple. If a Democrat is FOR something, then both the practical and optimal response will be the opposite position. Likewise, if a Democrat is AGAINST something, then both the practical and optimal response will also be the opposite position. QED!
Like Pete said I am no general. That is what the DOD needs. A military grunt who fought in the trenches and sees the military from the ground up. Not from the top down. The dems never asked about his qualifications. How he would improve the DOD. Would he allow an audit. What about the drag queens and DEI who are getting all the publicity and the average GI is being ignored. All the dems were interested in was personal rumors to highlight those. While many of the questioners had scandals in their closets as well. Who are friends with former president Bill Clinton who is well known for his dallying even while in the White House. And Sen Kaine isn’t without problems himself. And the 4 women on the committee wouldn’t even let him answer the questions they asked, just screaming yes or no. Many questions can’t be answered with a yes or no answer plus they didn’t allow him to answer they kept screaming yes or no. The people want a secretary of defense capable of strengthening the military. Take care of our men and women in the military. Getting the GIs the equipment and the bullets they need. Not send them to the Ukraine and leave our soldiers without. The dems showed with their questioning they rather have a toady at the pentagon than an actual knowledgeable person that would make it an efficient dept with the soldiers taking care of as the top priority and not the defense contractors and generals first. Like Pete said he wanted to be at the inauguration of Biden as a soldier, but was denied because he had a religious tattoo. But had he been a dragqueen he would have been allowed to serve. The mindset of the democrats. Merit doesn’t count. Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
Great reporting on these hearings and hurray for Mr. Hegseth for not lowering himself to the “Radical Loonies”. The fact that the “Loonies “. The fact that their defense plan is working must be on some kind of drug. Unless they’ve not shared this drug with the American people. The greatest thing is we’ve spoken and it’s time for the “Loonies” to realize that they have NOTHING left and to just take their ball and go home.
All you have to do to beat the media and the Democrats is to think above the level of a three year old. No offense to 3-year-olds, just act like an adult and you can beat them
It’s very easy to see who the real Hegseth is! Simply look at the folks that back him and the folks that despise him. Enough said! He’s got my vote and I assume the job.
Let theh Dems talk! They remove all doubt the depths of their ignorance and deperation to try to stay revelent.
The Biden administration presided over the Afghanistan debacle, the invasion of Ukraine, October 7th, and the wasting of 320 million dollars to build a pier that the waves of the Mediterranean tore apart. I think that Democrats epitomize failure, corruption, and ineptitude. Hegseth will be a most welcome antidote.