by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle
Pete Hegseth, US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, came under fire during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, with the top Democrat on the Senate committee accusing him of lacking “character and in cold blood” to lead the American army.
Former Fox News host and U.S. Army veteran Pete Hegseth is one of the most controversial figures to be appointed to the Pentagon.
Aged 44, he railed against initiatives in favor of diversity, equity and integration in the army, also implying that his predecessor, Lloyd Austin, was appointed because of his skin color.
Before his appointment, Pete Hegseth also opposed the presence of women in combat roles.
“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this position,” said Senator Jack Reed, Ranking Member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee.
Certain episodes from Pete Hegseth’s past have particularly aroused the concern of elected officials, notably an accusation of sexual assault in 2017, which did not give rise to prosecution and which he firmly denies, as well as accusations of excessive consumption of alcohol and financial mismanagement within veterans’ organizations.
“The challenge for the Secretary of Defense is to eliminate partisan politics from the military. You propose to inject it. That would be an insult to the men and women who have sworn to uphold their own apolitical duty to the Constitution.” , said Jack Reed.
Despite Republican support, confirmation of Pete Hegseth’s nomination could depend on his performance before the Senate committee.
“AGENT OF CHANGE”
As he entered the courtroom, he was greeted with applause and a standing ovation from his supporters, with chants of “USA, USA, USA” and a shout of “Get ’em, Petey.” -them, Petey).
Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican who heads the committee, strongly supported Donald Trump’s nominee, admitting “this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional.”
“With regard to his personal conduct, Mr. Hegseth admitted to failing, as we all do from time to time,” he added.
If confirmed by the Senate, Pete Hegseth would be responsible for an organization with a budget of nearly $1,000 billion (971.72 billion euros), which has 1.3 million military personnel on duty. active and nearly a million civilian workers.
“(Trump) thinks, and I humbly agree, that it is time to give the helm to someone who has dust on his boots. An agent of change,” Pete Hegseth defended himself before the commission.
“When President Trump selected me for this position, the main mission he gave me was to bring back the warrior culture within the Department of Defense,” he added.
As Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, will also face a number of major problems abroad, such as active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the expansion of the Chinese military.
(Reporting Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle, French version Etienne Breban, editing by Kate Entringer)
