President-elect Donald Trump Tuesday defended Pete Hegseth, his nominee for defense secretary, as potentially fiery confirmation hearings were starting on Capitol Hill for the U.S. Army veteran and former TV news host.
"Pete Hegseth will make a GREAT Secretary of Defense," Trump said on his Truth Social page. "He has my Complete and Total support. Good luck today, Pete!"
Hegseth's hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to be contentious, as he will face questions from both sides of the aisle on allegations that have been made about his conduct.
But the GOP-led Senate is pushing to have some of Trump's nominees ready to be confirmed as soon as next Monday, the president-elect's Inauguration Day.
Trump's team Tuesday released a list of Hegseth's supporters to back why the president-elect believes he is "exceptionally qualified" to head the Department of Defense.
"Hegseth is a decorated veteran who served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and guard at Guantanamo Bay — and was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service," the statement said. "He has two Ivy League degrees and has spent his career advocating on behalf of veterans."
Among his supporters are:
- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.: "Pete Hegseth is a strong nominee to lead the Department of Defense. We had an excellent discussion about the need for America's military to remain the best in the world. That means taking care of our service members, equipping them with the latest technology, and focusing on making our military the most lethal force on the planet. Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power — not the current administration's woke political agenda."
- Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.: "I think he's perfect. He's a decorated combat veteran. He's got two Bronze Stars, 20 years in service … The guy is a solid, solid individual. He's the right man for the job."
- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa: "I think he is going to be a very strong secretary of defense."
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.: "Pete is a warrior, an advocate for veterans, and a well-qualified nominee. He will put our enemies on notice and make our military great again."
- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.: "I think he's going to be in pretty good shape."
- Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.: "I had an outstanding meeting with Pete Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran who put his own life on the line for America. Pete knows that the defense secretary's job is to empower the men and women of our military to carry out their patriotic duty, not consign them to serve as political pawns in a broken Washington. A great choice by @realDonaldTrump to change Washington, and I look forward to supporting his confirmation."
- Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.: "Pete is 100% committed to building a lethal military that's feared by our enemies and respected by our allies while doing more to take care of those who serve our nation and their families. He will do a great job leading the @DeptofDefense."
- Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.: "[Hegseth is] an impressive individual … I'm certainly going to support President Trump and his agenda and his nominees."
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.: "At Defense, [Trump] tapped Pete Hegseth, a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. His Ivy League-educated, businessman background — that's what we need in the Pentagon right now."
- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.: "I think he's great."
- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.: "Pete Hegseth has my full-throated support … He will be a transformational figure."
- Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind.: "I fully support Pete Hegseth. He is eminently more qualified than Secretary [Lloyd] Austin … who disappeared on the job, who instructed the disastrous, deadly withdrawal of Afghanistan and created a woke political mess at the Pentagon that Pete is going to clean up."
- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.: "I think his focus on what he wants to do with the Department of Defense is the right one … bringing back the lethal approach … and getting rid of all the DEI crap."
- Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.: "Pete brings a lot to the table. He's got experience, and I think he'll be reform-minded in the areas that need reform."