Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates: Democrat scorched for bizarre claim Pete Hegseth will 'invade Greenland'

Senator Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, was roasted on social media after claiming that Hegseth is plotting to take over Greenland.

Her line of questioning comes as Donald Trump has suggested that the U.S. annex the key island.

HIRONO: Would you use the military to take over Greenland or an ally?

HEGSETH: Trump never strategically tips his hand. I would never publicly state give one way or another to direct the orders of the president.

HIRONO: Sounds to me you are considering carrying out an order to invade Greenland and take over the Panama Canal.

Social media users quickly scorched her line of questioning.

'Absolutely ridiculous,' one wrote on X. 'Senator Hirono is reaching for headlines, not facts.'

Another added: 'That is a senator?? My goodness democrats have little to no standards.'

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

One of Pete Hegseth's former Fox News coworkers lauded the nominee's confirmation hearing performance.

Gianno Caldwell, 38, was apparently the only employee from the cable channel present at the hearing who was not covering the event.

'As a colleague, I was incredibly proud of Pete, but it's what we've always known of Pete, somebody who's professional, who knows what he speaks of, he has the experience and the capabilities,' Caldwell told DailyMail.com.

He said that he had never seen Hegseth act unprofessionally at work - an allegation multiple Democrats lobbed at the nominee during the hearing.

'I've seen him in multiple situations, social situations and professionally, I have never seen him drunk.'

'I've never seen him intoxicated,' Caldwell continued. 'I've never seen him not professional.'

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill:

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) slammed Pete Hegseth's responses to a series of his 'true or false' questions during the confirmation hearing.

'I think it indicates that these are valid and real concerns that he was unable to answer whether specfics things were true or false,' Kelly said.

The retired Navy captain had asked Hegseth to answer 'true or false' about a series of allegations including public intoxication, but Hegseth would not, instead calling them smears.

'Then at the end, when I asked him again if he was under oath, would he've given a different answer, you know he wouldn't answer that question,' he noted.

Kelly also raised concerns over Hegseth's experience to lead a department with a $850 billion budget.

'We want people tha thave a lot of experience. Nobody comes into that hearing room... checking all of the boxes. I get that. My concern with him is he doesn't seem to check any of the boxes.'

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill:

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) came out of Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing singing his praises.

Wicker called Hegseth's performance in his confirmation hearing a 'tour de force, a takedown, a triumph.'

He called it a 'magnificent display of his knowledge and his ability to communicate his leadership.'

Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) praised Hegseth focusing on lethality' and 'warfighting' and getting rid of the distractions.

Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Jim Banks (R-IN) also signaled they believe he will be confirmed.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Betting odds for Pete Hegseth’s confirmation to be the next Defense Secretary soared to 90 percent on Tuesday afternoon.

The Polymarket spike hit after his nearly five-hour confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee concluded.

Even before the hearing, Trump’s pick had an above 80 percent chance of being confirmed.

With a Republican majority in the Senate, it’s highly unlikely any of Trump’s Cabinet picks will face obstacles toward getting the job they were selected to fill.

The hearing for Donald Turmp's Pentagon pick concluded on Tuesday afternoon.

Pete Hegseth faced a round of questioning by senators on the Armed Services Committee, each of which were given a single seven-minute session for grilling the former Fox host.

The panel will vote on whether to recommend Hegseth's confirmation to the full Senate body on Monday.

If he clears that hurdle, GOP Majority Leader John Thune will tee up a full body vote.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Pete Hegseth told Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., that he five sets of 47 did push-ups before his confirmation hearing today.

The number of push-ups, 47, is seemingly a reference to Donald Trump becoming the 47th president on the U.S.

'How many push-ups can you do?' Sheehy asked.

Hegseth: 'I did 5 sets of 47 this morning.'

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Pete Hegseth was forced to defend his tattoos during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

While serving in the Minnesota National Guard, Hegseth’s orders to guard President Joe Biden during his inauguration in 2021 was rescinded.

He claims it’s because of his chest tattoo, which is a large Jerusalem Cross.

‘It's a tattoo I have right here, Senator. It's called the Jerusalem Cross,’ he said, pointing to the left side of his chest. ‘It's a historic Christian symbol.’

‘In fact, recently I attended the memorial ceremony of President Jimmy Carter – on the front page of his program, was the very same Jerusalem Cross,’ he noted.

But some say that this tattoo was cause for alarm, and label him an ‘extremist’ because of it.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Olka., hit back at criticisms about Pete Hegseth's alleged infidelity and past drinking habits by taking aim at his colleagues.

'How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night?' he questioned his colleagues.

'Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, because I know you have,' Mullin continued.

Before the Republican spoke, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., called into question reports about Hegseth's drinking and 'cheating on his wife.'

'How many senators have gotten a divorce for cheating?' Mullin continued.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Sen. Tim Kaine decided to take the moral high ground during Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing in the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

The Virginia Senator, who ran for vice president with Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic ticket in 2016, spent his time questioning Hegseth to address his past transgressions of cheating on his second and third wives.

Kaine forced Hegseth to repeatedly address his personal life by asking him to reiterate his admission of cheating on Samantha, his second wife, with his now-third wife Jennifer, who was in attendance at the hearing on Tuesday.

'You think you are completely cleared because you committed no crime, that’s your definition of cleared?' Kaine questioned.

Hegseth in his defense was referencing allegations that he committed sexual assault against a woman whom he engaged with sexual acts just a few months after fathering a child with Jennifer.

He reiterated he is ‘not perfect’ and has ‘failed’ at things in life, but is ‘saved’ by his Christian faith and current wife, with whom he shares daughter Gwendolyn.

Kaine’s point, he said, was to say that Hegseth made an ‘oath’ to his wives not to cheat and that it’s similar to the oath he would be asked to make to the Constitution if confirmed as Secretary of Defense.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, pressed Hegseth on reports about his drinking at work in the past.

'I have read multiple reports of your regularly being drunk at work by people who work with,' she said.

The nominee said they were 'false' reports and denied them.

He then confirmed that he would not drink if appointed to the secretary of defense, a claim he had made before.

Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that despite President Biden's mandate flags fly at half-staff for one month to commemorate former President Jimmy Carter's death, the flags will be raised at the Capitol on Monday.

Trump will be sworn in on the Capitol's west front on January 20, 2025 at 12 p.m.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand skewered Pete Hegseth for his comments 'denigrating women.'

'You said in your statement you don't want politics in the DOD,' Gillibrand began. 'Everything you said in these public statements is politics.'

She continued on about Hegseth's past remarks: 'I don't want women. I don't want moms.'

'What's wrong with the mom once you have babies, you therefore no longer able to be lethal?' the senator asked. 'I mean, you're basically saying women, after they have children, can't ever serve in the military to combat.

'Well, it's it's a silly thing beneath the position that you are aspiring to,' she added.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker gave Pete Hegseth the chance to address claims made about him in reports published after Donald Trump named him as his Defense Secretary nominee.

‘You and your family have endured criticism of your nomination since it was announced in November,’ Republican Sen. Wicker said at Hegseth’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday. ‘Let’s get into this allegation about sexual assault, inappropriate workplace behavior, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement during your time as a nonprofit executive.

‘I want to give you an opportunity to respond to these allegations,’ Wicker said.

Hegseth replied:

Thank you for that opportunity. You are correct. We undertook this responsibility with an obligation to the troops to do right by them for our warfighters. And what became very evident to us from the beginning, there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us.

Hegseth has credited his faith in Jesus and his third wife Jennifer for ‘saving’ him and helping him change his life.

He has also slammed anonymous sources for hiding behind the reports to bring forward their claims against him, while he claimed several media outlets refused to publish comments made by those going on the record to give character testimony for Hegseth.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Senate Armed Service Ranking Member Jack Reed wanted to get Pete Hegseth on the record explaining what a ‘jagoff’ means.

Hegseth, Democratic Sen. Reed noted, made a statement to his platoon about being briefed by a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer - a military attorney - and used the derogatory term to classify them.

‘Would you explain what a ‘jagoff’ is?’ Reed asked the nominee to be Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary during Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.

‘I don't think I need to, sir,’ Hegseth shot back.

Reed asked: ‘Why not?’

‘The men and women watching understand,’ he explained, to which Reed insisted: ‘Perhaps some of my colleagues don't understand.’

Hegseth gave in:

It would be a jag officer who puts his or her own priorities in front of the war fighters. Their promotions, their medals in front of having the backs of those making the tough calls on the front lines.

From Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill:

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has a message to those who would vote against Hegseth:

I think any any concerns that they had specifically regarding the anonymous smear campaigns were actually addressed by Mr. Hegseth in his opening. And so I think that he's very qualified.

The one thing that I would like to see in our next Secretary of Defense, which he checks that box, is that he has combat experience. We need people that have served in the front lines and understand the gravity of their decisions and that it will impact people.

It is a life and death decision. So we're very supportive about this his nomination. I think he has the votes for it today, so we'll run through this process.

Luna also was asked about concerns that Hegseth is anti-women in the military.

She replied that Hegseth said he supports women in the military, but there are 'certain roles that I would actually deem are very dangerous for women in the military.'

You know, other governments have certain sniper teams that are just women, certain combat teams that are just women, but when you integrate women with men, actually, they found in different studies that it can sometimes actually prevent the success of the mission and actually endanger the team.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Rep. Mike Waltz was the second person to speak in support of Pete Hegseth’s confirmation at the Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on Tuesday morning.

The Florida lawmaker is preparing to leave the House to be Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor.

He specifically called out those who oppose Hegseth’s nomination during his remarks before the panel.

‘The status quo is unacceptable. It's not working. You all know it. You know it's not working,’ Waltz said. ‘We have hearing after hearing, year after year, and here we are, decades later, describing the SAME problems.’

‘The Pentagon has continuously failed audits… Innovation is stalled. Morale is down. Standards have been weakened. Meritocracy has less value. As a result, our adversaries have been emboldened all around the world,’ he insisted.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Pete Hegseth's emotional opening remarks were abruptly interrupted by disruptive protestors at least three times.

As Trump's secretary of defense pick looked visibly choked up during his testimony, multiple protestors caused chaos inside the hearing room.

A man shouting at Trump's nominee was carried out sideways by Capitol Police.

Another woman in fatigues was screaming 'we need money for veterans' and 'veterans are committing suicide.'

A third man began chanting about the U.S. giving '$8 billion to Israel to slaughter children.'

The man made such a fuss that within seconds he was carried out by at least four Capitol Police who hoisted him by all arms and legs.

Another protestor shouted: 'You are a misogynist.'

Hegseth, 44, and his wife Jennifer, 39, shared a tender moment as the hearing kicked off.

The former Fox News host gave her a sweet kiss before he sat down in his seat.

He praised her for being 'incredible' in his opening remarks, saying she 'changed my life' and 'been with me throughout this entire process.'

'I love you sweetheart, and I thank God for you.'

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

The highest-ranking Democrat overseeing Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing believes the nominee is not qualified for the role.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., slammed Hegseth midway through his opening remarks which came just after Chairman Roger Wicker's.

'I do not believe that you are qualified,' Reed said bluntly.

He brought up reports alleging misconduct by Hegseth, including 'concerning public report against a variety of work, including ... financial risk management ... alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual [and] harassment.'

Read Reed's quotes in full below

Mr. Hegseth, I welcome you and your family to today’s hearing. And I’m also glad to recognize my former colleague Norm Coleman and Congressman Mike Waltz Thank you, Congressman.

Mr. Hegseth, I want to begin by saying that I respect and appreciate your military service in the Army National Guard. I know from experience that there is no greater privilege than to lead American soldiers, and I thank you for answering the call.

You have been nominated to be the secretary of defense. The secretary is responsible for leading a department of 3.5 million service members and civilians, an annual budget of nearly $900 billion and hundreds of thousands of aircraft, ships, submarines, combat vehicles, satellites, and the nuclear arsenal. The secretary also plays a powerful role with our allies, partners, and adversaries abroad. And as we speak, China is seeking to undermine our interests, intimidate our friends, and challenge our standing in the world. Russia’s campaign against Ukraine threatens not only Europe, but the entire global order. Ongoing violence in the Middle East has teetered on the edge of all out war, and the ideologies and actions of violent extremists endanger our citizens even on our own soil.

As the recent tragedy in New Orleans painfully reminds us, these are perilous times. And the position of Secretary of Defense demands a leader of unparalleled experience, wisdom, and above all else, character. The secretary is expected to be a fair, nonpartisan and responsible leader, as well as a trustworthy advocate for the men and women that he leads.

Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job. We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources — including your own writings — implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues. I have reviewed many of these allegations, and find them extremely alarming.

Indeed, the totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any servicemember from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the Secretary of Defense.

Nonetheless, I understand that you reject many of these reports as they involve whistleblowers, nondisclosure agreements, and anonymous — although numerous — sources; including those who have faced political intimidation for sharing their experiences. I hope you will address each of these allegations thoroughly and truthfully during your testimony. Just as importantly, I hope you will pledge to prevent any repercussions for whistleblowers, both civilian and military, if confirmed.

Mr. Hegseth, during our meeting last week, you said that if confirmed, your top priority would be, quote, “restoring a warrior culture to the Department of Defense” because you believe the U.S. military has been weakened by political correctness. Over the years, you have made clear your opinion of the military’s diversity initiatives. As you said, quote, “Diversity is not our strength, unity is.” And on a recent podcast, you said, quote, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles.”

When I joined the Army as a young officer the 1970s, the U.S. military was rife with racial tension. Women were prohibited from serving in most roles. Gay service members were banned, and we relied on a national draft to fill our ranks. The soldiers I served with were proud to do so, but it was certainly not the nation’s most capable military. By any standard, we have made great progress since then. Today, the Department of Defense is fully integrated. Every race and religion is accepted. Women serve in all combat roles and leadership positions. Sexual orientation is irrelevant to service, and the all volunteer force visibly reflects the nation it protects. Our military is more diverse than it has ever been. But more importantly, it is more lethal than it has ever been. This is not a coincidence. Mr. Hegseth, I hope you will explain why you believe such diversity is making the military weak and how you propose to undo that without undermining military leadership, and harming readiness, recruitment and retention.

Mr. Hegseth, another reason I’m deeply concerned about your nomination is your disregard for the law of armed conflict and your support for service members who have been convicted of war crimes. You have championed the pardoning of military members who were turned in by their fellow soldiers and SEALs. And let me emphasize that, they weren’t discovered by reporters. They were turned in by fellow soldiers and fellow SEALs. And also pardoning of military contractors convicted of killing 14 Iraqi citizens without cause. You have also advocated for the restitution of interrogation methods like waterboarding that have been defined as torture, and you have belittled the advice and counsel of judge advocates general while on deployment. In your book, The War on Warriors, you write, quote, “Should we follow the Geneva Convention? If our warriors are forced to follow rules arbitrarily and asked to sacrifice more lives so that international tribunals feel better about themselves, aren’t we just better off in winning our wars according to our own rules?” Mr. Hegseth, I would ask that you explain how you, if confirmed, would maintain good order and discipline within our forces and the support of our allies and partners by rejecting international law and the law of war.

I’m also concerned about your abilities as a competent manager of organizations far less complex than the Department of Defense. From 2008 to 2010, you led the organization Veterans for Freedom, which had an annual budget of less than $10 million. In each year you were in charge, expenses far exceeded revenues until the organization teetered on bankruptcy and had to be merged with another group. In fact, according to public reporting, an independent forensic accountant reviewed the organization’s finances and discovered evidence of gross financial mismanagement. I would note that this report has not been made available to any government agencies, which is, I think, alarming. But a Republican advisor to you during your tenure at the organization who read the report stated, and I quote, “I watched him run an organization very poorly, lose the confidence of donors, the organization ultimately folded and was forced to merge with another organization who individuals felt would run and manage funds on behalf of donors more responsibly than he could. I don’t know how he’s going to run an organization with an $857 billion budget and 3 million individuals.” And that is the only comment we’ve had and the only access we’ve had to the forensic report.

A similar thing happened with the Concerned Veterans for America, a second veterans group that you led from 2011 until 2016. During those five years, tax records show that the organization spent more than it raised. Just as troubling are reports that a significant amount of debt was incurred from social events and parties filled with excessive drinking and questionable personal behavior. Mr. Hegseth, I hope you will explain what actions you will take if confirmed to be a better steward of Defense Department’s large budget.

Finally, while I appreciate our meeting last week, it is unacceptable that you did not meet with any other Democratic members of this committee before this hearing as has been our bipartisan tradition. During my time in the Senate, I have voted for and worked closely with secretaries of defense appointed by Republican presidents. While we may disagree politically, there was always an understanding that rank partisanship should have no place when it comes to providing for the men and women who serve in uniform.

And Mr. Hegseth, I am troubled by the many comments you have made, both as a commentator and in your published writings. For example, in your book American Crusade, you wrote, quote, “Modern leftists, who represent the soul of the modern Democratic Party, literally hate the foundational ideas of America.” You also wrote, “The other side, the left, is not our friend. We are not esteemed colleagues, nor mere political opponents. We are foes. Either we win or they win. We agree on nothing else.”

Mr. Hegseth, if confirmed as secretary of defense, you would lead an organization that, like the country it represents, is composed of Democrats and Republicans. Yet your language suggests that you regard many of these men and women as foes. And I would ask you to explain why service members and civilians who do not share your political opinions can trust that they will not be targeted during your tenure.

Indeed, the challenge of the secretary of defense is to remove partisan politics from the military. You propose to inject it. This would be an insult to the men and women who have sworn to uphold their own apolitical duty to the Constitution.

Mr. Hegseth, you are the ninth nominee for secretary of defense that I have had the record consider as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. I have voted in favor of all your predecessors, including those in the first Trump administration. Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense. Thank you.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker he supports Pete Hegseth getting the top job at the Pentagon during his opening remarks.

He called Hegseth an 'unconventional' selection to become Secretary of Defense but likened it to Donald Trump's coming down the golden escalator in Trump Tower before announcing his candidacy for the 2016 election.

'That maybe what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice,' Wicker said.

'Mr. Hegseth will bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy.'

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

With roars of approval from the mostly veteran audience, Pete Hegseth received a hero's welcome walking into his high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday morning.

Smiling with slicked-back silver hair and wearing a sharp blue suit, the former Fox News personality waved at the friendly crowd.

Many personalities like his former Fox News star Megyn Kelly, Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Brian Mast and former MMA star Tim Kennedy are in attendance in the room.

The crowd began chanting 'USA, USA' as Hegseth walked in.

Shortly after his arrival, the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker warned the crowd from breaking out in protest.

'Those that do so will be immediately escorted from the room,' he warned.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Steve Bannon’s daughter Maureen is at Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.

Like Hegseth, Maureen Bannon is an Army Veteran and is part of the massive group of veterans who descended on the Senate Armed Service Committee hearing room on Tuesday.

‘Flood the Zone!!!!’ Bannon posted along with an image of the audience gathered for Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.

She said in a selfie video posted from the Capitol Hill hearing room: ‘We’re here to support Pete Hegseth to be confirmed as the next Secretary of the Department of Defense.’

Hegseth arrived to the hearing room with his wife Jennifer just before he's set to deliver opening remarks.

He did not take any questions from reporters as he walked inside, but threw a thumbs up.

From Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill:

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren said to reporters about Hegseth:

He has 12 years in which he has said aggressively how women should not serve the military.

He is disqualified based on his attitudes about women in the military, based on the credible threats of sexual assault and sexual harassment, based on the fact that he has driven not one but two nonprofits directly into the ground.

This is a man [who] is not qualified to lead an agency that has $800 billion budget.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

House Speaker Mike Johnon said Pete Hegseth is the leader ‘needed’ at the Pentagon to redirect the U.S. defense priorities.

He claimed the former Fox News host and Army veteran will be a major upgrade from the leadership under President Joe Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who oversaw the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.

Hegseth has his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Service Committee on Tuesday.

‘We need a DECISIVE leader who can focus the Department of Defense on its mission of protecting America,’ Johnson wrote on X. ‘We need Pete Hegseth.’

From Sarah Ewall-Wice on Capitol Hill:

Adnaan Stumo from Code Pink tells DailyMail.com why they’re out today for the Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing:

Code Pink takes issues with Hegseth’s 'crusading holy war style of rhetoric and he’s a self professed Christian Zionist.'

I am terrified that he is going to lead us into another Forever War.

His inflammatory crusading style… If he backs that up as head of our military, we are going to be seeing many, many young, dead Americans.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Democratic Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois penned an op/ed on Tuesday ahead of Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing.

The two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee claim in the Military Times article that Hegseth’s ‘track record falls short of military standards.’

Both Kelly and Duckworth are veterans, similar to Hegseth.

‘Our responsibility is to make sure that the person who gets this job has the experience and judgment required to walk into a room of anyone from cadets to foreign military leaders and earn their respect and trust,’ they said of the role of Secretary for the Department of Defense.

From everything we know, it’s extremely unclear if Mr. Hegseth is that person. One quick glance at his resume and concerns over his lack of experience and qualifications become obvious.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Republican House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast is in the Senate hearing room where Pete Hegseth's nomination hearing is about to begin.

Speaking to DailyMail.com Mast said Hegseth represents a realignment to military values and an end to 'social experimentation.'

'He's a change agent for the military, for the difference between Lloyd Austin and social experimentation,' Mast told DailyMail.com.

'Only bring in the strongest, the best, make sure that you're giving them every possibility to create deterrence and defense for America and come home alive when they do so,' he added.

He was greeted warmly by a group of 'Vets of Pete' who posed for pictures with the Republican veteran who notably lost both of his legs in combat.

Click HERE to watch Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing from Capitol Hill at 9.30am.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Hundreds of veterans have descended on Washington, D.C. Tuesday to support Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon.

Two former Navy SEALs organized the effort to march and back President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense.

Former SEALs Bill Brown and Rob Sweetman got to know Hegseth through his participation in the yearly New York City SEAL Swim in the Hudson River, which is organized by Brown.

Veterans are planning to pack into the room for Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as line up outside the building.

The group is meeting at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 9:00 a.m. to march with flags toward Capitol Hill in support of Hegseth.

Donald Trump's pick of Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense will no doubt shake up the Pentagon say troops.

The heavily tattooed 44-year-old deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and won two Bronze Stars, then unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before joining Fox News.

Hegseth's appointment came as a surprise to many since he's a non-establishment pick with no previous government experience who will be leading the nation's largest federal agency with a $800 billion budget.

But current and former service members tell DailyMail.com that a shake-up at the top of the Pentagon totem pole is necessary.

Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL who killed terrorist Osama bin Laden in 2011, told DailyMail.com that Hegseth is a 'fantastic choice.'

And one main reason why is because he's never been dragged into the D.C. political 'swamp.'

'He is a mid-level officer who has been to Afghanistan and Iraq on combat tours, worked with the National Guard in DC and played basketball at Princeton,' said O'Neill.

'He knows the soldiers and how a team works and really knows how to push himself. He is not part of the good-old-boy network and has never been part of the swamp.'

From Jon Michael Raasch on Capitol Hill:

Former Navy Seal Tim Kennedy is in the hearing room posing for pictures with other veterans.

He's with a group of former military supporters of Hegseth's who want to see him in the top Pentagon job.

There are bound to be disturbances throughout the hearing as members of far-left Code Pink are also inside the room.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Democrats aren’t happy that the FBI decided to skip interviewing Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife in their background check of the nominee to lead the Pentagon.

People familiar with the bureau’s investigation revealed that Hegseth’s second ex-wife Samantha was not contacted by the FBI ahead of Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.

The two were married in 2010 and divorced in 2018.

'There are significant gaps and inadequacies in the report, including the failure to interview some of the key potential witnesses with personal knowledge of improprieties or abuse,' Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat member of the committee, told the New York Times.

Rank-and-file Democratic members of the panel were already upset that they were not able to see the FBI background check – even though it’s typical for only the Chair and Ranking Member to receive a copy.

Pete Hegseth pictured with his second wife Samantha Deering Hegseth and one of their children. The two share three children

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

A trove of flyers obtained by DailyMail.com from serving CIA officers lays bare the extent of the agency's 'diversity, equity and inclusion' work triggering fresh accusations that it is being distracted from its core job of protecting Americans from foreign threats.

But Trump transition insiders say those concerns will be tackled head on by John Ratcliffe, who is the president-elect's pick to lead the agency, and who will be grilled by senators about his plans on Wednesday.

He's another of Trump's most controversial nominees to be questioned this week after Pete Hegseth.

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

His life was teetering on the brink as he turned a little too much to alcohol as a crutch.

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

Just weeks later Hegseth, now 44, was accused of groping multiple women and sexually assaulting one as alcohol once again allegedly clouded his judgment.

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

Pete Hegseth is covered in tattoos - and many of them have already proved controversial for President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be the next Secretary of Defense.

The veteran served tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq, is double Bronze Star holder and a former Fox News host who stepped down once Trump’s selected him to lead the Pentagon in his second term.

Hegseth, 44, started adorning his body with tattoos only recently after his father dissuaded him from permanently marking his body at a young age. He now has over a dozen tattoos.

Among his most controversial tats is a large chest piece of the Jerusalem Cross, which he says got him labeled as an extremist.

He also has 'Deus Vult' on his bicep, which means ‘God Will It,’ and a cross and sword lower on his forearm. Also on his forearm is a massive 'We the people’ in gothic lettering and the year 1775 in Roman Numerals.

Hegseth’s skin also dons the iconic 'join or die' snake, which many use to express their support for the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Rank-and-file Democrat senators are furious they haven’t been given access to an FBI background check on Donald Trump's Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth.

Several scandalous reports about Hegseth's drinking habits, alleged sexual misconduct and rumors of mismanaging the finances of a veterans' non-profit have concerned the lawmakers in charge of overseeing his confirmation.

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

Typically such reports on Cabinet nominees are only shared with the chairman and ranking member.

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

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said of the information he heard is on the FBI file, 'Damning is an understatement,’ and claims the withholding of it gives the 'appearance of a cover-up.'

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Pete Hegseth’s financial disclosure released on Monday revealed he made $4.6 million over the last two years as a host on Fox News.

The 44-year-old Army veteran also made around $900,000 in speaking fees at non-profits, political action committees (PACS) and other conservative-centric organizations.

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

As of October 2024, the Secretary of Defense's annual salary clocked in at $246,400 – a massive payout for most Americans, but pennies compared to what Hegseth has become used to seeing in his pocket.

President-elect Donald Trump posted support of Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and wished him luck in his confirmation.

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

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

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

The Army Veteran will detail in his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday how wants to restore a ‘warrior ethos’ to the Pentagon.

Additionally his mission includes wanting to ‘rebuild our military’ and ‘reestablish deterrence.’

'When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was – to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,' Hegseth will say in prepared remarks.

[Trump], like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That's it. That is my job.'