Reactions poured in on social media and elsewhere after Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was lambasted by Democrats on Capitol Hill following a tense confirmation hearing that often turned personal.
“Pete Hegseth is crushing it,” former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer posted on X. “It’s refreshing to hear someone relentlessly focus on warriors and lethality without the Washington wordplay that forces candidates to speak like social workers running for office.” ”
“While the Senate likes to claim that hearings are serious policy-making and statesmanship deliberations, the actions of many Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats during Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth… Confirmation or not, it revealed the sad truth that most of the Senate hearings are kabuki theater,” Daily Signal political editor Bradley Devlin told Fox News Digital.
American Majority Chairman Ned Leune told Fox News Digital that Hegseth had responded “excellently.”
Democratic senator’s “lies and stupidity” during Hegseth hearing sparks fire on social media: “Clown show”
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate military confirmation hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“He conveyed a clear vision for a new day for the Pentagon, leaving behind the weakness of the woke and focusing on deterrence through strength,” Ryun said. “And when Democrats tried to use attacks from anonymous sources to undermine Pete, he handled them with grace. It was a really great hearing for him and he was easily confirmed. There was little doubt in my mind that it would.
“They didn’t censure Hegseth today,” CNN political commentator Scott Jennings wrote on X. “Why would the Democrats put their stupidest member on this important committee?” .
Top 5 Moments from Pete Hegseth’s Senate Confirmation Hearings
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill (Alison Robert)
“This hearing made two things abundantly clear: 1. The left remains committed to the disastrous, woke, weak, failed policies that were soundly rejected in November.” posted the account of former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and his wife, Candy. “It’s really sad. 2. Pete Hegseth would be a great Secretary of Defense. This is how it’s done.”
“While Democratic senators were preoccupied with hearsay and character assassinations, Pete Hegseth stuck to what the military is about: lethality,” said National Review staff writer. Caroline Downey, visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, told FOX News Digital.
President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth heads for a meeting with Sen. Ted Budd in the Russell Building on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (Tom Williams)
“As a graduate of West Point University and the daughter of an Army captain who served in Vietnam, I can tell you that these primary goals are subordinated to progressive political goals,” she continued. “The military academy has capitulated to woke ideology, jeopardizing its purpose of producing worthy leaders with the intellectual, mental, and physical fortitude who can protect and defend the United States.”Democrats Despite lawmakers accusing Hegseth of abandoning veterans, Hegseth has proven that he has always been dedicated to their welfare, not only in words but also in deeds. . ”
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Indiana Sen. Jim Banks said after the hearing that it was important that Hegseth be confirmed “immediately” so he could begin work as soon as possible.
“It’s important to me that he gets to work right away,” Banks told reporters.
“Until President Trump is President Trump again, we cannot vote to approve him off the committee. So on January 20th, when the committee meets, we will remove him from the committee. I’m going to take it off…and hopefully he’ll vote soon.”I’m sitting on the floor because I can’t wait,” he continued.
After the hearing, several Senate Democrats expressed continued disinclination to support Hegseth, arguing that he is not qualified.
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter for FOX News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email your tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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