Staff Reports
Republican senators have lined up behind Pete Hegseth, the unflappable former Fox News co-host who has bravely stepped into the spotlight as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. While some alarm bells have been sounded over a 2017 sexual assault allegation that fizzled out with no charges, GOP senators are all in, doing a collective nod of approval for the army combat veteran who is ready to steer the military back to strength rather than politics.
The swearing-in of the Defense Secretary appears to be a family affair, with none other than Vice President-elect J.D. Vance escorting Hegseth to Capitol Hill. The duo reportedly had a productive meeting with Republican senators to discuss how to keep America’s military prowess intact. The Wyoming senator, John Barrasso, emerged from the huddle declaring that America needs to maintain the best military in the world, which translates to ensuring that the men and women in uniform are well-equipped and not bogged down by the prevailing “woke” agenda haunting the Pentagon.
Pete Hegseth earns support from GOP senators, says he was ‘completely cleared’ in 2017 sex assault casehttps://t.co/V6Dirs83zQ pic.twitter.com/7GZzMXqCGb
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 22, 2024
The timing of Hegseth’s meetings coincided with former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration for attorney general, amid a swirl of accusations that would make even the most scandal-hardened political observer raise an eyebrow. Talk about heightened scrutiny. Some may see the juxtaposition between Hegseth’s candidacy and the tumult surrounding Gaetz as a double standard – but that’s a whole other story.
As the media pulls out the magnifying glass to scrutinize Hegseth’s past, he has been firm about his innocence, stating that he was cleared of any wrongdoing after a thorough investigation. In a classic surprise twist, his attorney chimed in about a payment made to the woman involved in the incident—an effort to quell any potential for legal drama. This situation raises eyebrows, but for the GOP, it appears this is just another hurdle on the long road to ensuring America has strong leadership at the Pentagon.
Republican senators like Markwayne Mullin have jumped to Hegseth’s defense, contending that the allegations are wildly out of context, while optimistic that he will secure confirmation. Meanwhile, Democrats seem to relish the opportunity to attack, with their speeches focused on ensuring that the Secretary of Defense is someone of “substance” and “qualification.” The double standards are glaring—when such scrutiny comes knocking, it often does so only for certain nominees.
The halls of Capitol Hill resonated with enthusiastic endorsements for Hegseth from Tennessee senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, who hailed him as a “well-qualified nominee” focused on real military empowerment rather than political gamesmanship. As Mr. Hagerty succinctly pointed out, the role of the Defense Secretary should be to empower service members in their patriotic duties, not to treat them like pawns in Washington’s endless power struggles, a sentiment that resonates deeply with conservative values. As the vetting process unfolds, one thing is clear: the GOP is gearing up to back their man while they fight tooth and nail to ensure that America’s military remains a formidable powerhouse.
