Two GOP senators are optimistic about Hegsth’s chances of becoming the next Secretary of State.
Two GOP senators believe they will get the vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as the next US defense secretary after a contentious hearing on Tuesday.
Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., join “The Ingraham Angle” to share their assessment of Hegsett’s path to becoming part of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet.
“I believe, without question, Pete will be confirmed, and I think he will have strong support from all Republicans, men and women,” Mullin said. “I think he’s the right person for the job, and President Trump has done a wonderful job selecting him to be the next secretary of defense.”
Top 5 moments from Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing
Pete Hegseth, 21st Century Fox Inc. military analyst and US Secretary of Defense nominee Donald Trump at the US Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Kent Nishimura)
Mullin also thanked fellow Republican Sen. Joni Earnest, R-Iowa, for throwing her support behind Hegseth after initially doubting his candidacy because of his comments about women in combat and allegations of sexual misconduct. Hegseth denied the allegations.
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The former “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host said on a podcast in early November that the United States “shouldn’t have women in combat roles.”
“It didn’t make us more effective. It didn’t make us more lethal. It made wrestling more complicated,” he said on the “Shawn Ryan Show.”
Earnest, herself a combat veteran and survivor of sexual assault, met several times with Hegseth before throwing her support behind Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon on Tuesday evening.
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters following the weekly Senate Republican Policy Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Cotton told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he believes Hegseth has the votes to confirm him in the Senate. A vote is expected sometime next week.
“I hope the Democrats don’t delay or otherwise block this nominee. If they want to vote against him, that’s fine, but President Trump needs to use his defense secretary properly,” he said.
He railed against “political correctness” and “social engineering” damage in the military.
“Maybe a number of recruits have been rejected, which puts us in a recruiting crisis and hurts readiness. Look, our soldiers don’t deserve their first name on their ID tags. They don’t need to walk a special route. They don’t.” A recurring training session on diversity, equity and inclusion. I have to get through the times,” Cotton continued. “What they need is serious, concrete training to help prepare this nation to defend itself in wartime. The training that Pete Hughes has and is running.”
The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One flying over Washington on March 2, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Several Democratic senators have criticized Hegseth for his experience leading two veterans nonprofits and alleged financial mismanagement during his tenure at Concerned Veterans for America and Veterans for Freedom.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., pressed the military veteran on his qualifications and experience in leadership positions.
“We’re basically hiring you to be the CEO of one of the largest and most complex organizations in the world. We’re the board of directors here,” Peters said, pointing to his colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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“I don’t think there’s a board of directors in America that would hire you as a CEO with the experience you have on your resume,” he added.
