WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmation hearing of President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was interrupted multiple times by disruptions from the audience, as protesters tried to draw attention to the numerous controversies related to Hegseth that were uncovered during the run-up to the hearing.
As Hegseth began his opening statements, a protester was removed from the balcony overviewing the chamber for shouting that he was a misogynist.
Hegseth’s previous comments speaking disparagingly about women serving in combat positions with the U.S. military have turned some groups against him, with critics saying he values women in the military less.
“I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” he said in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on Nov. 7.
Women have a place in the military, he said, just not in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units.
In his book, he said women have performed well in dangerous support roles during war, but “women in the infantry — women in combat on purpose — is another story.” He adds, “women cannot physically meet the same standards as men.”
He said, “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.”
Later during his opening remarks, more protesters, wearing camouflage fatigues, stood on their chairs and began condemning Hegseth throughout his monologue. Each was swiftly dragged out from the hearing by Capitol Police.
One woman jumped up and yelled that her veteran father “had committed suicide after his service and you’re sending money to bomb babies…every veteran in here needs to speak up” she screamed as she was ushered out of the room. Another yelled that Hegseth supported “murdering babies…that’s the real recruiting crisis” he screamed as three officers carried him by his arms and legs out.
Several other people were approached by police and directed out of the room without any clear coercion.
Hegseth’s confirmation process has been dogged by allegations of sexual assault, accusations of a drinking problem and critiques of his comments about women.
Hegseth, a longtime Fox News commentator and weekend host of Fox & Friends, did not initially address those topics in his opening remarks. Instead, he focused on his combat experience in the Army National Guard.
“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent,” Hegseth said.
Asked directly about the sexual assault allegation against him, Hegseth dismissed it as a “smear campaign.” But pressed about his personal behavior and marital infidelity Hegseth acknowledged, “I am not a perfect person.”
Senators spent hours drilling down on the questions surrounding Hegseth, with the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee acknowledging the “unconventional” choice and the top Democrat warning of “extremely alarming” allegations against him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.