The Capitol Hill scene was nothing less than a social roasting. Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nomination for secretary of defense, entered his confirmation hearing as a man who knew the spotlight was on him. Surrounded by supporters chanting” USA, USA, USA” and wearing Hegseth-branded clothes, the original Fox News variety and self-proclaimed hero of the “warrior society” gave Democrats all the feed they needed—and then some.
From his previous antagonism to women in battle to his alleged drunken misadventures and economic mishandling, Hegseth’s record was almost a buffet of controversy. But, for all the sharp doubting, he left the room generally unscathed—or at least without a self-inflicted scar that may drop him Republican support.
Senator Jack Reed led the charge, delivering a withering critique of Hegseth’s skills. ” Mr. Hegseth, I do not think you are qualified to join the overwhelming expectations of this job”, Reed declared. Hegseth, unworried, fired up with vague but confident statements about “meritocracy” and “lethality”, which sounded remarkable enough to maintain the GOP on his part.
Next came Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who lit into Hegseth’s earlier remarks about people in the military with all the nuance of a hammer. ” You degrade women”, she said, referencing his says that diversity activities had compromised military specifications. Hegseth, looking like a person caught with his hands in the cookie pot, promised he’d help people in combat—as much as” requirements remain high”. Gillibrand wasn’t buying it.
But the pièce de résistance was when Hegseth’s reviewers dredged up a 2017 sexual assault incident ( which he denies and for which he wasn’t charged ), accusations of excessive drinking, and a tattoo-related “insider risk” incident during Joe Biden’s inauguration. Hegseth addressed everything with a mix of cultivated sincerity and PR prowess, also promising to stop drinking if confirmed. If only alcoholism had ensure competence.
Despite the lights, Republican Senator Joni Ernst, seen as a possible jump vote, threw her fat behind Hegseth. ” I will help President Trump’s pull for Secretary of Defense”, she declared, after ensuring the devices were rolling. Other GOP members piled on with praise, describing Hegseth as “unconventional “—which, in Washington, is code for” we like him because he annoys the other side”.
As activists interrupted Hegseth’s opening remarks with slogans of “ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING”, he doubled down on his commitment to “restore legend society” to the defense. One may wonder if he meant precise warriors or simply people who concur with his guide visit contentions.
Hegseth’s assurance voting promises to be a nail-biter, with Democrats united in criticism and Republicans holding a razor-thin lot. A lost would be historic—the next Defense Secretary candidate to be rejected was John Tower in 1989—but don’t expect Trump’s pull to come down slowly.
In a reading that touched on all except, you know, pressing world issues like Ukraine, Gaza, or China’s growing military can, Hegseth miraculously managed to come mostly intact. It’s anyone’s imagine whether that says more about him or the state of contemporary elections.
If confirmed, Hegseth’s next move may be cleaning residence at the Pentagon, expelling generals he sees as to “woke”. In the meantime, he’s content to bask in the cheers of his supporters and avoid Democratic jabs like a man who’s been here before.
Confirmation vote: coming soon. Popcorn: mandatory. Evidently, the hearing sparked a slew of memes, including Pete Hegseth’s weathering snipes from Democrats and a few jokes about Elizabeth Warren from India. Here are some of the funniest jokes and memes about hearing:
