Pete Hegseth Confirmation: Key Sen. Joni Ernst Will Back Trump’s Pentagon Pick—After Senate Hearing

Senators grilled President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, with tense questions about his sexual misconduct allegation and controversial views on the military, but no GOP senators indicated they would vote against him, and pivotal Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, later offered her support—signaling he could be headed toward Senate confirmation.

Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

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Timeline

Jan. 13, 7:45 p.m.Ernst—widely seen as a key vote due to her advocacy against military sexual misconduct—told an Iowa radio show she will support Hegseth, saying he was “adequately able to answer all of my questions.”

Jan. 13, 1:45 p.m.Hegseth’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee concluded after approximately four hours of intense questioning from Democrats over allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, his prior opposition to women serving in combat roles and his qualifications for the job, but no Republican senators indicated they would vote against confirming him.

Jan. 13, 11:20 a.m.Hegseth told Ernst he would appoint a senior-level military official to focus on “sexual assault prevention and response,” and said “women will have access to ground combat roles” subject to a review to ensure they’re meeting standards, reiterating a watered-down stance he expressed in December, despite previously arguing women should not serve in combat roles.

Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m.Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee conducting the hearing, said the FBI background check into Hegseth was “insufficient” and omitted a forensic audit, adding he believes senators on both sides of the aisle should have access to the report, which Reed and committee chair, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., reviewed.

There were several tense moments during Reed and other Democrats’ questioning, including related to Hegseth’s management of a veterans’ charity and his defense of a trio of military officials accused or convicted of war crimes, along with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military: Hegseth said “the DEI policies of today” are “dividing troops inside formations, causing commanders to walk on egg shells” and said “I’m not talking about disavowing the laws of war or the Geneva Convention or the uniform code of military justice,” but “restrictive rules of engagement.”

Jan. 13, 10:20 a.m.Hegseth—answering a question from Wicker—derided what he said was a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us” and said “most of it was about President Donald Trump, who’s had to endure the very same thing,” claiming the allegations about his prior behavior came from “a small handful of anonymous sources” via “left-wing media.”

Hegseth said: “I’m not a perfect person, as it’s been acknowledged, saved by the grace of God, by Jesus and Jenny,” referring to his wife who sat behind him during the hearing.

Jan. 13, 10:10 a.m.Hegseth in his opening statement said the “primary charge” Trump gave him was “to bring back the warrior culture to the Department of Defense” and said that “unlike the current administration, politics should play no part in military matters,” acknowledging he doesn’t “have a similar biography” to previous Defense secretaries.

Jan. 13, 10:10 a.m.Security personnel escorted at least three people who interrupted Hegseth’s opening statement out of the chamber.

Jan. 13, 9:45 a.m.Wicker acknowledged the controversies surrounding Hegseth in his opening statement and said Hegseth has “admitted to falling short as we all do from time to time” in his personal life, but called Hegseth “unconventional,” comparing him to President-elect Donald Trump: “that may be what makes [him] an excellent choice,” Wicker said, noting the “vast majority” of the allegations against Hegseth have come from anonymous sources.

Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m.Reed released an opening statement saying he does “not believe [Hegseth is] qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” citing “the concerning public reports” against him.

Jan. 13, 9:30 a.m.The 27-member panel made up of 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats, kicked off the hearing and will vote at some point whether to recommend Hegseth for approval before the full Senate—making him one of the first of Trump’s cabinet nominees to undergo the Senate confirmation process.

Jan. 13, 7:17 a.m.Trump wished Hegseth luck in a Truth Social post Tuesday ahead of the hearing, writing that he “will make a GREAT Secretary of Defense” and that he has Trump’s “Complete and Total support.”

Who Is Pete Hegseth—and Why Is He Controversial?

Hegseth, 44, is a military veteran and Fox News host. He served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, including stints in Afghanistan and Iraq, after graduating from Princeton University in 2003. He has a master’s degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Hegseth also served as executive director of the nonprofits Concerned Veterans for America and Vets for Freedom. He was a political commentator on Fox News before he was hired to co-host “Fox & Friends” in 2017. He’s drawn criticism due to an alleged 2017 sexual assault, accusations about his drinking habits and a litany of controversial views about the military—including opposition to women serving in combat roles.

What Are The Sexual Assault Allegations Against Hegseth?

A woman said Hegseth sexually assaulted her in his hotel room after they met at an after party at the California Federation of Republican Women conference in 2017, according to a police report first released in November by Monterey, Calif., police. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in the report, told police she “remembered saying ‘no’ a lot” when she was with Hegseth in his room and that Hegseth “took her phone from her hands” then “blocked the door with his body” when she tried to leave, according to the report. She reported the allegation to police several days later, but charges were never filed. The allegation—which Hegseth has strongly denied—first came to light shortly after Trump picked him for defense secretary.

What Are The Allegations Against Hegseth Related To His Drinking?

The New Yorker reported Hegseth was forced to step down as president of Concerned Veterans for America in 2016 after numerous allegations from staff of his partying habits while on official work trips—though he has denied he was forced out. In one instance, Hegseth allegedly brought staff to a Louisiana strip club and had to be restrained from joining the dancers on stage, according to a seven-page whistleblower report obtained by the publication. On another trip in May 2015, Hegseth drunkenly yelled “Kill All Muslims” while he was out partying late at a hotel bar, The New Yorker reported, citing a letter from a fellow staffer to a superior at the organization. NBC News also reported Hegseth’s alleged drinking habits raised concerns among Fox News employees on more than a dozen occasions between 2017 and November, when he resigned after Trump nominated him. Two unnamed employees said they smelled alcohol on him on more than a dozen occasions before he went on air while hosting “Fox & Friends Weekend.” Fox did not formally respond to the allegations, but some of its anchors defended Hegseth, including “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade, who argued in December, “he knows his stuff, he’s got the vision, he fought in the wars.”

What Is Hegseth’s Response To The Allegations?

Hegseth told police he had consensual sex with the woman who accused him of sexual assault, according to the police report. His lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, claimed to The Washington Post witnesses said Hegseth was “visibly intoxicated” at the time and she was “the aggressor in initiating sexual activity.” Parlatore said Hegseth paid the woman a settlement in 2020 as part of a nondisclosure agreement after learning the woman told other people she was considering filing a lawsuit over the matter. Hegseth has denied he was forced out of Concerned Veterans for America, citing a letter from a trustee written to Fox News in 2016 stating Hegseth “voluntarily resigned” after “a difference of opinion as to the future of the organization and so that he could focus on other endeavors.” Hegseth retweeted the letter, writing, “read for yourself. You’ll see the truth is on our side.” Hegseth told Megyn Kelly in December he does not have a drinking problem, but acknowledged there were “tiny kernels of truth” to some of the allegations against him. He also told reporters last month: “I am a different man than I was years ago—that’s a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate.” Hegseth told senators he would stop drinking if he is confirmed for the role, Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Wicker told ABC News.

What Has Hegseth Said About Women In The Military?

Hegseth has said on numerous occasions he believes only men should serve in combat roles, including in his 2024 book, “The War on Warriors,” and in an appearance on a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan in November. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective,” Hegseth told Ryan. Hegseth sought to “clarify” his comments in a Fox News interview in December in which he called women in the military “some of our greatest warriors.” Defending his previous comments, Hegseth said, “everything about women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat means casualties are worse,” citing research he said shows combat effectiveness is “drastically worse” in male-female units.

What Has Hegseth Said About Nato?

Hegseth called NATO a “relic” that “should be scrapped and remade” in one of his books, sharing Trump’s longstanding skepticism of the military alliance, as the president-elect argues other members of the trans-Atlantic alliance should spend more on defense. Hegseth also questioned why “Islamist Turkey” is a member of NATO, The Guardian notes.

What Else Has Hegseth Said About The Military?

Hegseth has criticized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, questioning in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors” whether Joint Chiefs Chairman Charles Brown, who is Black, was hired “because of his skin color? Or his skill?” and alleging, “he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards.” Hegseth wrote, “the next president . . . needs to radically overhaul Pentagon senior leadership” and told Ryan, “any general, admiral, whatever, that was involved in any of the DEI/woke sh—t has got to go.” During Trump’s first term, he successfully advocated for Trump to pardon three service members accused or convicted of war crimes, arguing on Fox News military prosecutors were “throwing warriors under the bus.” Hegseth has spoken out against what he claims are overly restrictive combat rules, writing in his book, “in some cases, our units were so boxed in by rules and regulations and political correctness, we even second-guess ourselves.” Hegseth described himself to Ryan as a “recovering neocon,” explaining he supported the Iraq War at the time, but “in retrospect, absolutely not.”

What Has Trump Said About Hegseth?

Trump in December said Hegseth was “doing very well” in the nomination process and has “strong and deep support,” calling him a “WINNER” and writing, “there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”

Will Any Republicans Vote Against Hegseth?

No. Some have voiced reservations, but have appeared to warm to Hegseth after meeting with him last month—and no GOP lawmakers broke ranks during his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Armed Services Committee. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Ga., initially called the allegations against Hegseth “very disturbing,” but said Hegseth “is in pretty good shape” after their meeting. Weeks before indicating support for Hegseth, Ernst signaled she was unlikely to oppose him, saying after meeting with him last month they had an “encouraging” conversation and she would “support” him through the confirmation process.

What Have Democrats Said About Pete Hegseth?

Multiple Democratic senators expressed concerns during Tuesday’s hearing about Hegseth. At one point, Hegseth tangled with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., about the 2017 sexual assault allegation: Kaine accused Hegseth of not informing transition team staff about the issue, and asked whether Hegseth believed the accusations against him would be disqualifying if true, while Hegseth repeatedly insisted he was “fully investigated and completely cleared.” Last month, a group led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, wrote a letter to Trump’s incoming chief of staff arguing Hegseth’s “attitudes toward women, including allegations of sexual assault and harassment, disqualify him to be the next Secretary of Defense.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also sent a letter to Wicker asking for a “full review” of Hegseth’s conduct while he led the veterans’ nonprofits, calling the roles “the only civilian management experience of his career.” Democrats have demanded access to the FBI’s background check of Hegseth commissioned by Trump’s transition team. Wicker and Reed were briefed on the agency’s findings Friday, The New York Times reported, but other members were not given access, as is customary. “I need to see his F.B.I. background check, we need to see his financial disclosures,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., told The Times. “And we need to know about any other potential lawsuits he might be facing, any other allegations he might be facing.”

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