Confirmation Hearings for Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense, faced intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearings from senators regarding his past statements and conduct. Some Democratic senators asked pertinent questions about his views on women in combat and military sexual misconduct policies, while others, like Senator Tim Kaine, delved into Hegseth’s personal life and infidelities. This focus on his marital history has been criticized for being irrelevant to his qualifications for the defense role, underscoring a level of hypocrisy given the Democrats’ historical defense of Bill Clinton's sexual escapades. Hegseth’s responses conveyed a defense against those personal attacks, even as he acknowledged previous allegations against him that he attributed to his pursuit of a television career.