19 Jan 2025

Confirmation Hearing: Hegseth (Secretary of Defense)

by Bonnie | | 0

Confirmation hearings began in the Senate for Pete Hegseth, who is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. Despite numerous questionable aspects, he appeared to have enough votes lined up for confirmation.

The two main strands in consideration of the appointment were readiness and personal character.

Readiness

Among questions about readiness, after Hegseth remarked in the hearing that the Indo-Pacific region is strategically important, Senator Tammy Duckworth asked him to describe the role of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), including how many countries are in it, and name at least one of those countries. He responded, “I know we have allies in South Korea and Japan in AUKUS (a pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the U.S.) with Australia.”

Duckworth pointed out that none of those countries are in ASEAN, adding “I suggest you do a little homework.” Click here for an outline of that portion of the hearing, what ASEAN is and how it is pertinent to the USA.

Personal Character

Hegseth is dogged by allegations of sexual assault in 2017, adultery, frequent intoxication and using official funds of a non-profit he led for his personal use. He has a tattoo associated with supremacist groups. In 2008 and 2016 he was interviewed on Fox News, and when asked about waterboarding he said it can be useful in some scenarios. He has publicly stated that women should not be allowed in military combat roles and has spoken against allowing gay people to serve in the military.

Click here for more details.

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