Democratic senators have sharply criticised Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defence secretary, over his past comments about women serving in the military. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire led the charge, warning that Hegseth would need to change his views if confirmed.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has previously stated that women should not serve in combat roles, arguing that they make fighting 'more complicated' and 'cannot physically meet the same standards as men'. In his 2022 book The War on Warriors, he wrote that mothers should not serve in combat units, saying: 'Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units.'
Senator Gillibrand challenged Hegseth directly: 'You will have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don't know if you are capable.' She described his remarks as 'hurtful' and 'harmful to morale'. Senator Shaheen questioned his shift in stance since his nomination, referring to it as an 'eleventh-hour conversion'. Senator Elizabeth Warren added: 'I've heard of deathbed conversions. But this is the first time I've heard of a nomination conversion.'
Hegseth attempted to defend himself by stating that he would be 'honoured' to serve alongside men and women alike. However, senators remained sceptical. Senator Maisie Hirono also pressed Hegseth on a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he denied, claiming he was 'completely cleared'. Hirono rejected this, saying: 'I don't think completely cleared is accurate.'
