Confirmation of Trump’s cabinet picks: Senate holds hearing for Hegseth

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A Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, grilled Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth over his views on women serving in the military, citing comments Hegseth made as recently as November that the U.S. military “shouldn’t have women in combat roles .”

“You’ve made a number of startling statements about women in the military,” Shaheen told Hegseth, before noting that women make up about 18% of US military personnel.

“Women in our military, as I have said publicly, have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield,” Hegseth responded

In response, Shaheen said that before his nomination, his statements in public “have not had that effect.”

“After your nomination and you said to a group of reporters, as you quote, ‘support all the women serving in our military today who are doing amazing work around the globe, including combat,'” she said.

“So what I’m confused about, Mr. Hegseth, is why would women in our military – if you were Secretary of Defense – believe that they would have a fair chance and equal opportunity to rise through the ranks? If you on the one side says that women are not competent, they make our military less effective – and on the other side you say, ‘Oh, now that I’ve been nominated to be Secretary of Defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military.’ ”

In response, Hegseth reiterated to Shaheen that his concerns were about the standards used for women in combat roles and ensuring they are not eroded by allowing women to serve at all levels of the military.

“I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside men and women, shoulder to shoulder; black, white; all backgrounds with a common purpose,” Hegseth said.

Written by Breanne Deppisch, video by Julia Johnson