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Pete Hegseth’s bid to become Secretary of Defense faces intense scrutiny due to past comments on women in combat roles.
At a Glance
- Hegseth clarified his views on women in the military.
- Scrutiny emerged after remarks about physiological differences.
- Senators Joni Ernst and Tammy Duckworth have differing stances on Hegseth.
- Hegseth seeks to ally with key Republican senators.
Clarifying Women in Combat Remarks
Pete Hegseth clarified his stance on women in the military, describing them as “some of our greatest warriors” during a segment on Fox News’ Hannity show.
While earlier remarks about physiological differences between men and women caused controversy, Hegseth defended his intentions. He emphasizes support for all military members regardless of gender. His comments aimed to address the controversy surrounding past remarks about women’s combat roles.
.@PeteHegseth knows what it’ll take to return to peace through strength:
“Return the Pentagon to the warfighters … get back to lethality, war-fighting, accountability, meritocracy, and readiness … Address that recruiting crisis, address the retention crisis.” pic.twitter.com/fGH6lgyPz2
— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) December 10, 2024
Building Senate Support
Hegseth’s nomination drew particular scrutiny from Senator Joni Ernst. As a longstanding advocate for military sexual assault prevention, Ernst met with Hegseth, who pledged to support women and reinforce her legislative efforts.
“I also want an opportunity to clarify comments that have been misconstrued that I somehow don’t support women in the military. Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors are women who served, raised their right hand to serve this country and love our nation and want to defend that flag and they do it every single day around the globe.” – Pete Hegseth – Source
Senator Tammy Duckworth opposes Hegseth’s nomination, questioning his qualifications and expressing concerns over his comments on women’s roles. Duckworth’s opposition could contribute to a potential 50-50 Senate deadlock that requires a tie-breaking vote from Vice President-elect JD Vance.
FBI Background Check and Future Steps
Beyond the debate over women in combat, Hegseth faces allegations from his history, including sexual assault and financial mismanagement. He welcomes an FBI background check as a critical step to clear these allegations and seeks to build bridges with pivotal senators to secure his confirmation.
Hegseth plans to meet with key moderate Republican senators to secure necessary votes. If all Democrats oppose, he can only afford to lose three Republican votes for his confirmation. His appointment will depend heavily on strategic alliances and addressing controversies linked to his comments and past behaviors.