| GRILLED BUT NOT TOASTED: One thing seemed clear after Pete Hegseth's four-hour grilling by Democrats on the Senate Armed Services committee — President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Pentagon enjoyed the unreserved support of all the Republicans on the committee, which meant Hegseth's nomination will clear the committee this week on a party-line vote, and will be set for likely confirmation in a floor vote Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. One of the key votes Hegseth needed to secure was from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) — a combat veteran and fierce advocate for sexual abuse protections in the military — who had initially bristled at Hegseth's opposition to women in combat but who was also the target of a paid campaign threatening to fund a primary opponent to run against her. After Hegseth promised, at her request, to appoint a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention, she gave him her full endorsement. "After our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States senator, I will support President Trump's pick for secretary of defense," Ernst said in a statement after the hearing. "I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards." Hegseth needs only 50 of the 53 Senate Republicans to vote for him to be confirmed, and it's even possible he may pick up a Democratic vote. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who met with Hegseth last week, has not ruled out voting for him. HEGSETH EMERGES FROM TOUGH SENATE HEARING WITH CONFIRMATION VOTE ON TRACK 'A TOUR DE FORCE, A TAKEDOWN, A TRIUMPH': Republicans were exultant about Hegseth's performance, citing his experience as a Fox News host as a major plus. "We must not underestimate the importance of having a top-shelf communicator as secretary of defense," said Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who called verbal dexterity "a tour de force, a takedown, a triumph." "I think Pete Hegseth did a great job today. I think he's sailing toward a confirmation. I think we're going to do it quickly," Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) told CNN after the hearing. "And I don't think anything that happened in that committee today changed anything. The reality is that President Trump won on a reform agenda. Pete Hegseth wants to go do that in the Pentagon that sorely needs reform." "Pete did a very good job answering difficult questions at today's hearing while laying out a vision to reform the Pentagon and to be the warfighters' biggest champion," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). He called the Democratic attacks on Hegseth "overly personal" and claimed they "fell flat." "It was clear Pete was more prepared for the hearing than my Democratic colleagues," Graham said in a statement. "With today's performance, I believe Pete Hegseth's path to confirmation has been assured." "THE LEAST QUALIFIED NOMINEE FOR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN MODERN HISTORY': The hearing was a rhetorical ping-pong match, with Republican and Democratic senators taking turns questioning Hegseth, which invariably resulted in seven minutes of high praise followed by seven minutes of harsh condemnation. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the former chairman, now relegated to ranking member, set the tone early with an opening statement that amounted to a case for the prosecution. "I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job," Reed said, launching into Hegseth. "We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources, including your own writings, implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues." "I’m also concerned about your abilities as a competent manager of organizations far less complex than the Department of Defense," Reed said. "From 2008 to 2010, you led the organization Veterans for Freedom, which had an annual budget of less than $10 million. In each year you were in charge, expenses far exceeded revenues until the organization teetered on bankruptcy and had to be merged with another group. In fact, according to the public reporting, an independent forensic accountant reviewed the organization’s finances and discovered evidence of gross financial mismanagement." In a statement released after the hearing, Reed pronounced himself unsatisfied with any of Hegseth's answers. "If a servicemember had the same record of misconduct, they would be disqualified from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense," Reed said. "He lacks the requisite character, competence, and commitment to do this job. Indeed, he is the least qualified nominee for secretary of defense in modern history." FOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM PETE HEGSETH'S CONTENTIOUS SENATE HEARING Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie (@chriswtremo). Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE HAPPENING TODAY: It's a real confirmation palooza today on Capitol Hill, with no less than six separate nominees to be considered in a single, jam-packed day. Check the calendar below for times and sites to stream your favorite hearing. The list includes Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to be homeland security secretary, Pam Bondi to be attorney general, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) to be transportation secretary, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to be secretary of state, John Ratcliffe to be CIA director, and Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget. HEGSETH'S 'ANONYMOUS SMEARS' DEFENSE: When confronted with direct questions about his past conduct, Hegseth, in almost every instance, avoided giving a direct answer, labeling various allegations against him the result of a "coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media." "A small handful of anonymous sources were allowed to drive a smear campaign and agenda about me because our left-wing media in America today sadly doesn't care about the truth," Hegseth said. "All they were out to do was to destroy me … Because I'm a change agent and a threat to them." Under cross-examination by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Hegseth routinely refused to say whether any allegation was true or false, instead giving a rote two-word response. "On Memorial Day 2014, at a CVA event in Virginia, you needed to be carried out of the event for being intoxicated," Kelly said. "Senator, anonymous smears," Hegseth replied, and so it went: Kelly: Summer of 2014, in Cleveland, drunk in public with the CVA team. Hegseth: Anonymous smears. Kelly: I’m just asking a true or false question. True or false answers. An event in North Carolina, drunk in front of three young female staff members after you had instituted a "no alcohol" policy and then reversed it. True or false? Hegseth: Anonymous smears. Kelly: December of 2014, at the CVA Christmas party at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C., you were noticeably intoxicated and had to be carried up to your room. Is that true or false? Hegseth: Anonymous smears. Kelly: Another time, a CVA staffer stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus. Is that true or false? Hegseth: Anonymous smears. Kelly: In 2014, while in Louisiana on official business for CVA, did you take your staff, including young female staff members, to a strip club? Hegseth: Absolutely not. Anonymous smears. HEGSETH FIGHTS BACK AGAINST 'SMEAR CAMPAIGN' AS DEMOCRATS CHARGE HE IS UNQUALIFIED TO LEAD PENTAGON KAINE: 'THEY'RE NOT ANONYMOUS': Hegseth doggedly refused to acknowledge any of his past transgressions, even those documented as fact, such as his sexual encounter with a woman at a conference in Monterey, California, in 2017, which he told police was consensual. "You have admitted that you had sex while you were married to wife two after you just had fathered a child by wife three. You've admitted that," Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said at one point. "You've admitted that it was consensual, and you were still married, and you'd just had a child by another woman. How do you explain your judgment?" "Completely false charges against me," Hegseth replied. "Many of your work colleagues have said that you show up for work under the influence of alcohol or drunk," Kaine said. "Senator, those are all anonymous false claims," Hegseth replied. "They're not anonymous," Kaine said. "We have seen records with names attached to all of these, including the name of your own mother. So, don't make this into some anonymous press thing." HEGSETH: 'REDEMPTION IS REAL': Instead of revisiting his past indiscretions, Hergseth invoked the "I'm not a perfect person" defense, insisting that while he has "failed in things in my life," he has been "redeemed by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," and his wife Jennifer. "Saved by the grace of God, by Jesus, and Jenny," Hegseth testified. "I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real. And God forged me in ways that I know I’m prepared for." Near the end of the hearing Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) defended Hegseth with the "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone," defense. "How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down and resign for their job? And don’t tell me you haven’t seen it because I know you have," Mullin said. "We’ve all made mistakes. I’ve made mistakes. And Jennifer, thank you for loving him through that mistake. Because the only reason why I’m here and not in prison is because my wife loved me too." THE TATTOO: Hegseth's Christian faith came up several times during the hearing, including when he described being banned from serving in his National Guard role at President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration after a fellow guardsman reported he had a tattoo associated with white supremacism. "I’d been identified as an extremist, someone unworthy of guarding the inauguration of an incoming American president," Hegseth said, because of a tattoo. "It’s a tattoo I have right here," Hegsteh said point to his right chest. "It’s called the Jerusalem Cross. It’s a historic Christian symbol. In fact, interestingly, recently, we — I attended briefly the memorial ceremony of former President Jimmy Carter on the floor of our National Cathedral. On the front page of his program was the very same Jerusalem Cross." The only problem with that account is that, as the Associated Press discovered when it obtained a copy of the email that flagged Hegseth a possible 'insider threat," the fellow guard member referred to a different tattoo, not the Jerusalem Cross. "MAJ Hegseth has a tattoo of 'Deus Vult' on his inner arm (bicep area)," the email said. "The phrase 'Deus Vult' is associated Supremacist groups, in which White supremacist use of #DeusVult and a return to medieval Catholicism is to invoke the myth a white Christian (i.e. Catholic) past." HEGSETH DEFENDS CHRISTIAN TATTOOS IN SENATE HEARING THE GENEVA CONVENTION AND 'JAGOFFS': Democrats also expressed concern about Hegseth's writings about his frustration with the Geneva Conventions and the internationally recognized laws of armed conflict. In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors, Hegseth wrote, “Should we follow the Geneva Convention? If our warriors are forced to follow rules arbitrarily and ask to sacrifice more lives so that international tribunals feel better about themselves, aren’t we just better off in winning our wars according to our own rules?” "You’ve already disparaged in writing the Geneva Convention, the rules of war, all of these things. How will you be able to effectively lead a military in which one of the principal elements is discipline, respectful, lawful authority?" Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) asked. "I'm not talking about disavowing the laws of war or the Geneva Conventions or the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Hegseth replied. "I'm talking about restrictive rules of engagement," arguing that military lawyers should defer "to the warfighter, to the men and women with dust on their boots, not the second guessers in air-conditioned offices in Washington, D.C." In his book, Hegseth expressed deep disdain for judge advocate generals and military lawyers who instruct troops on what's legal and what's not. "There are some good ones out there, but most spend more time prosecuting our troops than they do putting away bad guys," noting that the lawyers are universally disliked by front-line troops and are derisively referred to as "jagoffs." "Would you explain what a 'jagoff'" is?" Reed asked. "I don’t think I need to, sir," Hegseth replied. "Why not?" "Because the men and women watching understand." "Well, perhaps some of my colleagues don’t understand." "It would be a JAG officer who puts his or her own priorities in front of the war fighters," Hegseth said. "Their promotions, their medals, in front of having the backs of those who are making the tough calls on the front lines." In his book, Hegseth tells the story of one "jagoff" who advised his troops not to shoot a suspected enemy Iraqi armed with a rocket-propelled grenade unless the weapon was pointed at them. "That's a bullshit rule that's going to get people killed," Hegseth told his soldiers, countermanding the JAG officers' instructions. "If you see an enemy who you believe is a threat, you engage and destroy the threat," he said. "And I will have your back." "Your quote in 2024, 'Our boys should not fight by rules written by dignified men in mahogany rooms 80 years ago.' That would be the Geneva Convention," said Sen. Angus King (I-ME) later in the hearing. "'America should fight by its own rules, and we should fight to win or not go in at all.' Are you saying that the Geneva Convention provisions, which clearly outlaw torture of prisoners, do not — should not apply in the future?” "How we treat our wounded, how we treat our prisoners, the applications of the Geneva Conventions are incredibly important, but we would all have to acknowledge that the way we fought our wars back when the Geneva Conventions were written are a lot different than the asymmetric, non-conventional environment of counter-insurgency that I confronted in Iraq," Hegseth said. "We follow rules. We follow rules. But we don’t need burdensome rules of engagement that make it impossible for us to win these wars. And that’s what President Trump understands." “I’M NOT A GENERAL, SENATOR.”: SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN QUESTIONS HEGSETH THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Hegseth emerges from tough Senate hearing with confirmation vote on track Washington Examiner: Hegseth fights back against 'smear campaign' as Democrats charge he is unqualified to lead Pentagon Washington Examiner: Four takeaways from Pete Hegseth's contentious Senate hearing Washington Examiner: Pete Hegseth and Republican defenders bash Pentagon's DEI efforts Washington Examiner: Sen. Tim Kaine questions Pete Hegseth about misconduct allegations Washington Examiner: Hegseth defends Christian tattoos in Senate hearing Washington Examiner: “I’m not a general, Senator.”: Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions Hegseth Washington Examiner: Susan Collins denies she 'turned down' meeting with Hegseth accuser Washington Examiner: Confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard in limbo as Democrats seek to delay further Washington Examiner: Hope rises for Biden administration's final Israel-Hamas peace negotiations Washington Examiner: Maduro threatens 'liberation' of Puerto Rico as governor urges Trump to defend island Washington Examiner: Biden to lift Cuba's status as 'state sponsor of terrorism' Washington Examiner: Why Trump faces greater challenge getting border in order this time around Washington Examiner: North Korean soldiers unwilling to defect after capture in Ukraine Washington Examiner: Italy releases Iranian man connected to deadly drone attack on US military Washington Examiner: Family optimistic about husband held by Taliban after Trump adviser meeting Washington Examiner: US Air Force to implement stricter dress and appearance standards Washington Examiner: Laken Riley Act clears second Senate hurdle as Democrats demand changes Washington Examiner: Mike Johnson orders flags at full-staff for Trump inauguration Washington Examiner: Hugo Gurdon Opinion: Democrats' 'stupidity' on display at Senate hearings Washington Times: FBI remotely deletes Chinese malware from thousands of U.S. computers in a court-approved cyber move AP: China Is Pushing the Philippines 'to the Wall' with Aggression in the South China Sea, Manila Says New York Times: Biden Aides Warned Putin as Russia's Shadow War Threatened Air Disaster Air & Space Forces Magazine: Hegseth Vows to 'Look Under the Hood' of NGAD, Review Air Force Capacity The War Zone: UK Emphasizes Need to Arm Tempest Stealth Fighter with Larger, Longer Range Air-To-Air Missiles Air & Space Forces Magazine: Take Sentinel Off the Air Force Books? 'Doesn't Create New Money,' Kendall Says DefenseScoop: A Final Rundown of the Drones Committed to Ukraine by the Biden Administration Breaking Defense: As NATO Beefs Up Baltic Defense, Rutte Says Alliance 'Cannot Wait' to Increase Defense Spending Breaking Defense: Lack of Space Force Personnel Support for NRO Draws Congressional Ire SpaceNews: Defense Department's New Tool to Investigate On-Orbit Anomalies Defense News: Stratolaunch Readies Second Carrier Plane for Talon-A Hypersonic Ride Stars and Stripes: Repairs Should Conclude This Week for A-10 Warthogs Left Stranded in Sicily After Deployment Inside Defense: REFORPAC Will Happen Despite CR, but Training and Support Might Be Restricted Air & Space Forces Magazine: Last D-Day C-47 Pathfinder Pilot Dies at 102 THE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 15 7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. — Association of the U.S. Army day long Hot Topic discussion: "Connecting the Industrial Base to the Tactical Edge, with Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, acting commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command; Vic Ramdass, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy; Liz Miranda, executive deputy to the commanding general, U.S. Army Material Command; Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor, commander, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command; Brig. Gen. Ronnie Anderson, commander, Joint Munitions Command; and Rich Martin, executive director of supply chain management at Army Materiel Command https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic/connecting-industrial-base-tactical-edge 9 a.m. 2401 M St. NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group coffee-conversation with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith RSVP: [email protected] 9 a.m. — Intelligence and National Security Alliance virtual discussion: "Integrating open source intelligence technology into the Machine-Assisted Analytic Rapid-Repository System program, using AI and machine learning for big data analysis, and tackling challenges with innovative commercial solutions,” with Timothy Wood, deputy program manager at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s MARS program; and Bishop Garrison, INSA vice president for policy https://www.insaonline.org/detail-pages/event 9 a.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the nomination of Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to be homeland security secretary. http://www.hsgac.senate.gov 9:30 a.m. 216 Dirksen — Day one of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Pam Bondi to be attorney general of the United States. http://judiciary.senate.gov 10 a.m. 253 Russell — Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the expected nomination of former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) transportation secretary http://commerce.senate.gov 10 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl) to be secretary of state http://foreign.senate.gov 10 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the nomination of John Ratcliffe to be director of central intelligence. 11 a.m. — Foundation for Defense of Democracies in-person and virtual discussion: "Infrastructure Security in the Cyber Age: A Conversation with CISA Director Jen Easterly," with retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, CCTI senior director and former executive director of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/01/15/infrastructure-security-in-the-cyber-age 1 p.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the nomination of Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget http://www.hsgac.senate.gov 1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Meeting DOD’s Innovation Challenge: Adapting and Scaling Cutting-Edge Technology to Enhance Modernization,” with Liz Young McNally, deputy director for commercial operations at the Defense Innovation Unit; Navy Program Executive Office for Digital Louis Koplin; and Navy CTO Justin Fanelli https://www.csis.org/events/meeting-dods-innovation-challenge 2 p.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “The Future of Russian Energy Influence in Europe,” with Geoffrey Pyatt, assistant secretary of state for energy resources https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/us-assistant-secretary-pyatt THURSDAY | JANUARY 16 9 a.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on “Remain in Mexico" http://www.hsgac.senate.gov 10:15 a.m. 216 Dirksen — Day two of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Pam Bondi to be attorney general of the United States http://judiciary.senate.gov 10:30 a.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to be U.S. representative to the United Nations http://foreign.senate.gov 1 p.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs forum: “The Future of U.S. Policy and the Indo-Pacific.” https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/the-future-of-us-policy-and-the-indo-pacific 2 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual discussion: “Attracting Gen Z to Civilian Military Careers,” with Brynt Parmeter, chief talent management officer at the Defense Department; Valerie Capers Workman, chief talent engagement officer at Handshake; and George Jackson, executive producer and host of GovExecTV https://events.govexec.com/attracting-gen-z-to-civilian-military-careers/ FRIDAY | JANUARY 17 8 a.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation with Steven Morani, acting assistant secretary of defense for sustainment RSVP: [email protected] 8 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Virginia — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Northern Virginia Chapter 2025 Army IT Day, with Danielle Moyer, executive director of the Army Contracting Command; Army CIO Leonel Garciga; and Steve Wallace, CTO of the Defense Information Systems Agency https://afceanova.swoogo.com/ArmyITDay2025 9 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Righting the Ship: Strengthening U.S. Navy Shipbuilding and Ship Repair,” with Nickolas Guertin, assistant navy secretary for research, development, and acquisition; Glen Kim, director of naval affairs and strategy development, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Adam Beck, executive vice president of ship repair, Vigor Industrial; and Greg Little, senior counsel, Palantir Technologies https://www.hudson.org/events/righting-ship-strengthening-us-navy-shipbuilding-ship-repair-bryan-clark 12 p.m. — Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women discussion: “What to Expect from the Trump Administration,” with Sarah Bedford, investigations editor at the Washington Examiner https://web.cvent.com/event | | | | "I've led troops in combat. I've been on patrol for days. I've pulled the trigger downrange, heard bullets whizzed by, flex cuffed insurgents, called in close air support, led medevacs, dodged IEDs, pulled out dead bodies, and knelt before a battlefield cross. This is not academic for me. This is my life. I led then and I will lead now." | | Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, in his opening statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday |
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