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After a contentious hearing Tuesday, two Republican senators said they believe Pete Hegsett will have enough votes to be confirmed as the next US defense secretary.
Sens. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Tom Cotton of Arkansas joined “The Ingraham Angle” to share their Hegsett path estimates to become part of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet.
“I think without a doubt Pete will be confirmed, and I think you’re going to get strong support from all Republicans, men and women,” Mullin said. “I think he’s the right person for the job, and President Trump has done a great job selecting him to be the next secretary of defense.”
TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM PETE HAGSETT’S SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING
Pete Hegseth, a military analyst at Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., U.S., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. , Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)
Mullin also praised his fellow Republican, His. Joni ErnstR-Iowa, for endorsing Hegsett after she was initially skeptical of his nomination because of his comments about women in combat and allegations of sexual misconduct. Hegseth denies the allegations.
The former “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host said on a podcast in early November that the United States “shouldn’t have women in combat roles.”
“It didn’t make us more efficient. Didn’t make us more mortal. Made the fight more difficult,” he said on an episode of The Sean Ryan Show.
Ernst, herself a combat veteran and survivor of sexual assault, had met with Hegseth several times in the days leading up to confirmation hearing before endorsing Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon on Tuesday night.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters after the weekly Senate Republican luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2023. in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Cotton told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he believes Hegsett has the right votes approved by the Senate. The vote is expected next week.
“I hope that the Democrats will not delay or otherwise obstruct this nomination. If they want to vote against him, that’s fine, but President Trump deserves to have his secretary of defense work properly,” Cotton said.
He spoke against the harm of “political correctness” and “social engineering” that are “rampant” in the army.
“Maybe it’s reduced recruitment to the point where we’re in a recruiting crisis and that’s disrupting readiness. Look, our troops don’t deserve their pronouns on their ID tags. They don’t need to take privileged walks. They do not deserve to have to undergo repeated training sessions diversity, equity and inclusion” Cotton continued. “They deserve tough, realistic training that will help them prepare to defend this country in wartime. The training that Pete Hegseth has conducted and that he directs.”
The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington on March 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Several Democratic senators criticized Hegseth for his experience running two veteran nonprofits and alleged financial mismanagement during his tenure at Veterans Concerned America and Veterans for Freedom.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, pressed the military veteran on his qualifications and experience in leadership positions.
“Essentially, we are hiring you to be the CEO of one of the most complex and largest organizations in the world. We are the board of directors,” Peters said, pointing to his Senate Committee on Armed Services colleagues.
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“I don’t think there is a board of directors in America that would hire you as a CEO with the experience you have on your resume,” he added.
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