Senator grills Trump defense secretary pick over '11th-hour conversion' on women in military

14 January

During his Tuesday confirmation hearing, Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth's past statements about women serving in combat roles were put under the microscope.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) began her questioning by reading excerpts from Hegseth's book "The War on Warriors," in which he wrote that women were "comparatively less effective than men in combat roles" and that women were "more likely to be objectified by the enemy and their own nation in the moral realms of war." Hegseth pushed back and insisted that women "have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield."

However, the Granite State's senior U.S. senator wasn't buying it. She reminded the Fox News personality that there were two members of the committee – Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — who "served honorably and with distinction." She then directly asked Hegseth if their service "made our military less effective and less capable" as a result.

"'I'm incredibly grateful for the for the two women who've served our military in uniform and including in the Central Intelligence Agency, contributions on the battlefield, indispensable contributions," Hegseth said. "Senator, I would like to clarify when I'm talking about that issue, it's not about the capabilities of men and women. It's about standards."

Shaheen reminded the committee that after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to lead the military, Hegseth praised women in combat roles, saying they did a "fantastic job." She then pivoted to her next question, saying she was "confused" about Hegseth's honest views about women in the military.

"Which is it? Why should women in our military, if you were the secretary of defense, believe that they would have a fair shot at an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks?" Shaheen asked. "If, on the one hand, you say that women are not competent, they make our military less effective. And on the other hand, you say, 'oh, no, now that I've been nominated to be the secretary of defense, I've changed my views on women in the military.' What do you have to say to the almost 400,000 women who are serving today about your position on whether they should be capable to rise through the highest ranks of our military?"

Hegseth pushed back, saying "our differences are not what define us," but "our unity and our shared purpose."

"You will be treated fairly and with dignity, honor and respect, just like every man and woman in uniform," Hegseth said. "Just like the men and women that I've worked with in my veterans organizations to include when I was a headquarters and headquarters company commander in the Minnesota National Guard."

"Well, I appreciate your 11th-hour conversion," Shaheen responded sarcastically.

Watch the exchange below, or by clicking this link.

From Your Site Articles