Senate Republicans are expressing optimism that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Pentagon, earned the support he needs to be confirmed after he emerged mostly unscathed from his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
“I think it was a magnificent display of his knowledge and his ability to communicate and leadership abilities, and I feel very good about this hearing today and I don’t think it could have gone any better,” said Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), speaking to reporters following the hearing.
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Democrats pressed the former Fox News host over allegations of impropriety, past comments on women in the military, and allegations of financial mismanagement at two veterans organizations.
Hegseth is facing accusations of sexual assault stemming from a 2017 incident that he said was consensual. Hegseth was never charged in the case, but he later agreed to a settlement with the woman who had not been publicly identified. He is also facing allegations involving alcohol abuse and claims that he mismanaged two conservative veterans’ groups.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), a member of the panel, said he thought Hegseth did an adequate job in addressing the allegations against him.
“It’s what I had expected it would be, basically that there were anonymous accusations being made and he continued to remind people that the accusations that have been made have been anonymous in nature,” Rounds said, speaking to the Washington Examiner.
“I think based upon what we’ve seen so far, I think he has a path forward, and I think Republicans will support him,” Rounds added.
Following the hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Hegseth’s performance has sealed his path to confirmation.
“Democratic attacks were overly personal and fell flat,” Graham said in a post on X. “It was clear Pete was more prepared for the hearing than my Democratic colleagues.”
“With today’s performance, I believe Pete Hegseth’s path to confirmation has been assured,” he added.
The hearing ended with no surprises and throughout the proceedings, Democratic senators aired their grievances that Hegseth had not been subjected to a more thorough FBI background check. The investigation did not include an interview with the woman who accused Hegseth of sexual assault.
“I am not satisfied with how the hearing went. Hegseth was not forthcoming and he was not willing to acknowledge what is clearly on the record,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the panel, speaking to the Washington Examiner.
The top Democrat on the panel, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), argued the FBI background investigation into Hegseth was “insufficient.” The Rhode Island Democrat asked for the report to be made widely available to all committee members, but Wicker rejected that request along with another for a second round of questions.
“Unfortunately, Hegseth’s testimony failed to address the disturbing questions that plague his nomination,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, speaking to reporters during a weekly press conference.
Wicker said Hegseth’s accuser in the 2017 sexual assault allegation was not interviewed because she wasn’t willing to speak out.
“I don’t think she wanted to speak. They interviewed some 60 or more witnesses, and three asked not to be identified,” Wicker said. “I don’t have any complaints about the FBI investigation. They did a thorough interview of persons at all the places where Hegseth has lived and worked, and I don’t have any objections to the report.”
The Armed Services Committee chairman said he is aiming to have a vote on Hegseth’s nomination by next week and said he believes the nominee has the support of all Republicans on the panel. Hegseth seeks to win over a majority of the committee, which has 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats.
“I think the committee has been adequately advised and I think basically it seems that the committee members have made up their mind,” Wicker said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said he will work expeditiously to get Hegseth’s nomination voted on the Senate floor once the committee takes action.
“If he is reported out of the committee, we will work quickly to get him across the floor obviously, because that is a key, critical, important national security position that needs to be filled,” he said on Tuesday.
A month ago, the Army National Guard veteran’s nomination appeared to be on life support, but since then, signs point to him winning confirmation thanks to those in Trump’s orbit fighting for him behind the scenes, as well as increasing the public pressure on Republican senators.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), who was initially hesitant to support Hegseth, had a friendly exchange with Hegseth during the hearing.
The Iowa senator, a combat veteran who has been vocal about being sexually assaulted, has been under pressure from some of Trump’s MAGA loyalists who have threatened to mount a primary challenge against her if she tanks Hegseth’s nomination. After the hearing, Ernst announced her support for Hegseth.
“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” she told Fox News.
Reed acknowledged what he called a “campaign of intimidation” that has been going on since Hegseth’s nomination was announced.
“There is an ongoing campaign of intimidation against people who would come forward and testify,” Reed said. “Also, I believe my colleagues, there are advertisements in their states now that they must vote for Hegseth and there is clear sort of signals that if you don’t play ball, you’re going to have millions and millions of dollars directed against you as well as social media directed against you to make your life miserable.”
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“Ultimately, this will come down to whether the Senate of the United States can perform its constitutional duty to advise and consent to the president of the United States, not to simply fall in line and do something expedient,” Reed added.
If Hegseth’s nomination is passed by the committee, he needs a simple majority in the Senate, where Republicans have a 53-47 advantage. Hegseth can’t afford to lose more than three GOP votes if all Democrats vote against him.
