Home US Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates: Opening statement from Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee revealed

Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates: Opening statement from Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee revealed

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Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates: Opening statement from Trump's Secretary of Defense nominee revealed

Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth faces a showdown during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill as he competes to become Donald Trump’s next secretary of defense.

The Army veteran is the first of Trump’s Cabinet picks to be questioned by senators and will likely set the tone for the rest.

Hegseth, 44, has drawn criticism from Democrats, who say his age, lack of experience and personal behavior mean he is ill-suited to lead the agency, which will receive $849 billion in funding this year.

Despite reports that he drinks too much on the job and allegations of sexual assault, Hegseth has not withdrawn from his appointment to head the Pentagon.

Follow all developments in the DailyMail.com live blog

Pete Hegseth reveals his top priorities to overhaul the Pentagon in his opening statement

By Katelyn Caralle, senior US political reporter

Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department has three priorities that he hopes to implement if confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense.

The Army veteran will detail how he wants to restore the “warrior ethos” to the Pentagon in his opening statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

Moreover, his mission includes wanting to “rebuild our military” and “restore deterrence.”

“When President Trump chose me for this position, the most important assignment he gave me was – bringing the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,” Hegseth will say in prepared remarks.

(Trump), like me, wants a Pentagon laser aimed at warfare, lethality, meritocracy, norms and preparedness. That’s it. That’s my job.’

FILE PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) (not pictured) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 10, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

Exclusive:Trump’s CIA director will bring a “wrecking ball” to transgender lectures and pride events in Langley

A lecture by the highest transgender officer in the armed forces; a celebration of Loving Day and sessions on equity assurance training.

A large number of flyers obtained by DailyMail.com from CIA officers expose the extent of the agency’s work on ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’, prompting new accusations that it is being distracted from its core mission : protecting Americans from foreign threats.

But Trump transition insiders say those concerns will be directly addressed by John Ratcliffe, who was picked by the president-elect to lead the agency and will be questioned by senators on Wednesday about his plans.

He is one of Trump’s most controversial nominees to be questioned this week, after Pete Hegseth.

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Defense Secretary candidate Pete Hegseth had a baby with his Fox News producer lover just weeks before he was accused of drunken sexual assault

His marriage had fallen apart when his wife discovered that his mistress had given birth to his daughter and that his divorce would cost him millions.

His life teetered on the edge when he used a little too much alcohol as a crutch.

And that wasn’t the worst thing for Pete Hegseth – Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense – when his life threatened to spiral out of control in 2017.

Just weeks later, Hegseth, now 44, was accused of groping several women and sexually assaulting one, saying alcohol was once again said to cloud his judgment.

The assault allegations could not have come at a more sensitive time for Hegseth personally. His accuser made her claims while his divorce proceedings were pending and an initial case conference was scheduled to take place less than three weeks later on October 27.

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A look at some of Pete Hegseth’s most controversial tattoos

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Pete Hegseth is covered in tattoos – many of which have already proven controversial due to newly elected President Donald Trump’s choice to be the next Secretary of Defense.

The veteran has served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, is a two-time Bronze Star holder and a former Fox News host who resigned after Trump picked him to lead the Pentagon in his second term.

Hegseth, 44, only recently started decorating his body with tattoos after his father stopped him from permanently marking his body at a young age. He now has more than a dozen tattoos.

One of his most controversial tattoos is a large chest piece of the Jerusalem cross, which he says branded him an extremist.

He also has “Deus Vult” on his bicep, which means “God wills it,” and a cross and sword lower on his forearm. Also on his forearm is a huge ‘We the people’ in Gothic letters and the year 1775 in Roman numerals.

Hegseth’s skin also features the iconic “join or die” slang, which many use to express support for the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Meet Trump’s Cabinet picks facing hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they all survive?

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Democrats are condemning Republicans for failing to turn over FBI background checks to Pete Hegseth

By Katelyn Caralle, senior US political reporter

Rank-and-file Democratic senators are furious that they have been denied access to an FBI background check on Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s Pentagon nominee.

Several scandalous reports about Hegseth’s drinking habits, alleged sexual misconduct and rumors of mismanagement of the finances of a veterans nonprofit organization have concerned lawmakers charged with overseeing his nomination.

The FBI gave their report on the nominee to Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker and the committee’s top Democrat Jack Reed just days before the hearing.

Normally, such reports on cabinet nominees are only shared with the chairman and the most senior member.

But Democrats on the committee were desperate to get the elusive FBI dossier that could contain damning information about Hegseth ahead of his first confirmation on Tuesday morning.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said of the information he learned in the FBI file, “Damning is an understatement,” claiming that withholding it “gives the appearance of a cover-up.”

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Pete Hegseth is willing to take a huge pay cut for Trump’s top role at the Pentagon

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By Katelyn Caralle, senior US political reporter

Pete Hegseth’s financial disclosure released Monday revealed that he earned $4.6 million over the past two years as an anchor at Fox News.

The 44-year-old Army veteran also earned approximately $900,000 in speaking fees at nonprofits, political action committees (PACS) and other conservative-leaning organizations.

If he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon, which is very likely in the Republican-controlled Congress, Hegseth will take home significantly less, trading his cushy Fox job for a highly regulated and under-the-microscope posted position.

As of October 2024, the Secretary of Defense’s annual salary was $246,400 — a huge payout for most Americans, but pennies compared to what Hegseth has grown accustomed to seeing in his pocket.

Trump’s good wishes for the Pentagon elect Pete Hegseth

President-elect Donald Trump expressed his support for Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and wished him the best of luck in his nomination.

It comes as Hegseth prepares for his first confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning.

1736860792 816 Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates Opening statement from Trumps

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