A flood of reactions social media Elsewhere, defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was shot by Democrats at the Capitol after a tense confirmation hearing that often turned personal.
“Pete Hegseth is crushing it,” former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer Posted in X. “It's refreshing to hear someone focus so relentlessly on warriors and lethality without the Washington wordplay that forces candidates to speak like social workers who run government agencies.”
“While the Senate likes to claim that hearings are serious policy-making and statesmanship deliberations, the actions of many Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats during Tuesday's confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth… Confirmation or not, it revealed the sad truth that most of the Senate hearings are kabuki theater,'' Daily Signal political editor Bradley Devlin told Fox News Digital.
American Majority Chairman Ned Leune told Fox News Digital that Hegseth had responded “excellently.”
Democratic senator's “lies and stupidity” during Hegseth hearing sparks fire on social media: “Clown show”
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate military confirmation hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“He conveyed a clear vision for a new day for the Pentagon, leaving behind the weakness of the woke and focusing on deterrence through strength,” Ryun said. “And when Democrats tried to use attacks from anonymous sources to undermine Pete, he handled them with grace. It was a really great hearing for him and he was easily confirmed. There was little doubt in my mind that it would.
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings said: “Today they didn't lay hands on Hegseth.” Posted in X. “Why would Democrats put their stupidest members on this important committee?”
Top 5 Moments from Pete Hegseth's Senate Confirmation Hearings
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill. (Alison Robert)
“This hearing made two things abundantly clear: 1. The left remains committed to the disastrous, woke, weak, and failed policies that were soundly rejected in November.” said the account of former HUD Secretary Ben Carson and his wife Candy. Posted in X. “It's really sad. 2. Pete Hegseth would be a great Secretary of Defense. This is the way it is.”
“While Democratic senators were preoccupied with hearsay and character assassinations, Pete Hegseth stuck to what the military is about: lethality,” said National Review staff writer. Caroline Downey, visiting fellow at the Independent Women's Forum, told FOX News Digital.
On Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, heads for a meeting with U.S. Sen. Ted Budd (R) in Russellville. (Tom Williams)
“As a graduate of West Point University and the daughter of an Army captain who served in Vietnam, I can tell you that these primary goals are subordinated to progressive political goals,” she continued. “The military academy has capitulated to woke ideology, jeopardizing its purpose of producing worthy leaders with the intellectual, mental, and physical fortitude who can protect and defend the United States.”Democrats Despite lawmakers accusing Hegseth of abandoning veterans, Hegseth has proven that he has always been dedicated to their welfare, not only in words but also in deeds. . ”
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Indiana Sen. Jim Banks said after the hearing that it was important that Hegseth be confirmed “immediately” so he could begin work as soon as possible.
“It's important to me that he gets to work right away,” Banks told reporters.
“Until President Trump is President Trump again, we cannot vote to approve him off the committee. So on January 20th, when the committee meets, we will remove him from the committee. I'm going to take it off…and hopefully he'll vote soon.''I'm sitting on the floor because I can't wait,'' he continued.
After the hearing, several Senate Democrats expressed continued disinclination to support Hegseth, arguing that he is not qualified.
Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips contributed to this report
