Democrats Aim to Block Pete Hegseth's Nomination During Initial Confirmation Hearing Day
The way Trump’s Pentagon nominee is handled will probably influence the success of other nominees.
TroibNews 
Senate Democrats are gearing up to challenge Pete Hegseth as he testifies on Capitol Hill Tuesday in support of his nomination to lead one of the largest employers in the world, despite his controversial background and lack of Pentagon experience.
Hegseth will require unanimous support from Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, some of whom have voiced concerns about his past. Donald Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary is facing scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault, issues related to alcohol use, and doubts about his ability to manage a large bureaucracy.
During the hearing, senators are likely to investigate his stance on women in combat and assess his previous leadership roles in veterans' organizations. Although Democrats cannot single-handedly derail his nomination, Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, could potentially block it if she chooses to do so.
The manner in which Hegseth is treated—being the most prominent of Trump's nominees facing a Senate hearing—will likely establish a precedent for how future nominees are evaluated. This includes the level of scrutiny Democrats are willing to impose and whether Republicans will defend their nominees or allow them to face tough questioning.
Here are some key aspects and strategies to watch for during Hegseth’s confirmation hearing:
1. **Go on the attack or walk back?** It will be interesting to see whether Hegseth shows any remorse for his past actions. Although he has denied the assault allegations and was never charged, he has claimed he would abstain from alcohol if confirmed and believes he has changed with support from his family and faith—a narrative he may emphasize during the hearing. “I'm a different man than I was years ago, and that's a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate,” he recently stated.
Hegseth has also faced scrutiny for moderating his previously controversial views against women serving in combat roles and openly gay individuals in the military. As he confronts significant questioning about his past statements as an author and a conservative media figure, he may further soften his positions.
However, with Trump anticipated to be paying attention, Hegseth may choose to adopt a more confrontational stance, believing that a spirited performance will maintain his relationship with the president-elect, who favors energetic exchanges.
2. **Democrats vs. the process** While Democrats lack the votes to independently stop Hegseth's nomination, they are expected to highlight concerns regarding the process leading up to the hearing. They argue that they do not have full access to the necessary information about Hegseth because the FBI background check is only available to the Senate Armed Services leaders. They are also upset that Hegseth did not meet with the majority of them prior to the hearing.
Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of Armed Services, indicated that it will be up to Sen. Roger Wicker to decide whether to share the report with other senators. “That decision has to be made by the chair, and we have done it on two occasions that I can think of,” Reed noted, referencing past nominees who faced similar scrutiny.
This session will mark the first interactions for many Democrats with Hegseth, and they will likely express their concerns. Reed remains the only committee Democrat who has met with Hegseth.
“How do I vote on a guy I haven't met with and do my job?” Sen. Tammy Duckworth questioned. “This is one of the most bipartisan committees in the Senate so it’s very unusual that a SecDef nominee would refuse to meet with members of one party.”
3. **All eyes on Ernst** Ernst is a significant wildcard among the Republicans, as her vote could be crucial for Hegseth’s confirmation. The veteran and advocate for sexual assault survivors has not yet declared her support for him, making her questioning and his responses of particular interest to both parties.
With Republicans holding only a one-vote advantage on the Armed Services Committee, her choice is critical, a fact that the Trump transition team is aware of. Hegseth has met with Ernst twice and made commitments to her, including appointing a senior official focusing on military sexual assault issues. She has described Hegseth as “very supportive of women in the military,” but has also expressed initial doubts about his nomination. As a result, she has faced substantial scrutiny from Trump’s supporters and on social media, especially with her impending reelection campaign in 2026 on the horizon.
4. **Attacking the MAGA agenda** Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has encouraged his members to hold Trump’s nominees “accountable” for his agenda. This is likely to result in pointed questions for Hegseth regarding Trump’s rhetoric around military power and actions that Democrats argue could politicize the armed forces.
Democrats are coordinating their inquiries to avoid redundancy, aiming to question Hegseth on his potential actions if Trump were to request military involvement against what the president-elect has termed “the enemy from within” or if it involved mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Trump's expansive statements related to Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal are also expected to come up, particularly since he has not ruled out using military force for those ventures.
5. **On-camera experience** Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, has the advantage of looking polished and camera-ready, unlike some of his Democratic interrogators. Republicans hope that his media experience, along with his background as a decorated war veteran, will lend him credibility.
However, the senators will also be keen to evaluate how he handles fundamental national defense inquiries, including questions on the appropriate size of the defense budget and how to manage various global hotspots such as the Pacific, Middle East, and Ukraine. If he is unprepared to answer these basic yet vital questions, it could reflect poorly on him.
Republicans have been coaching Hegseth on expected questions, aiming for him to present himself as “comfortable and forthright,” as Sen. Mike Rounds stated. “He's been on TV, he's been in front of an audience before,” Rounds affirmed. “I think he'll do just fine. I really do.”
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
Hegseth will require unanimous support from Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, some of whom have voiced concerns about his past. Donald Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary is facing scrutiny over allegations of sexual assault, issues related to alcohol use, and doubts about his ability to manage a large bureaucracy.
During the hearing, senators are likely to investigate his stance on women in combat and assess his previous leadership roles in veterans' organizations. Although Democrats cannot single-handedly derail his nomination, Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, could potentially block it if she chooses to do so.
The manner in which Hegseth is treated—being the most prominent of Trump's nominees facing a Senate hearing—will likely establish a precedent for how future nominees are evaluated. This includes the level of scrutiny Democrats are willing to impose and whether Republicans will defend their nominees or allow them to face tough questioning.
Here are some key aspects and strategies to watch for during Hegseth’s confirmation hearing:
1. **Go on the attack or walk back?** It will be interesting to see whether Hegseth shows any remorse for his past actions. Although he has denied the assault allegations and was never charged, he has claimed he would abstain from alcohol if confirmed and believes he has changed with support from his family and faith—a narrative he may emphasize during the hearing. “I'm a different man than I was years ago, and that's a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate,” he recently stated.
Hegseth has also faced scrutiny for moderating his previously controversial views against women serving in combat roles and openly gay individuals in the military. As he confronts significant questioning about his past statements as an author and a conservative media figure, he may further soften his positions.
However, with Trump anticipated to be paying attention, Hegseth may choose to adopt a more confrontational stance, believing that a spirited performance will maintain his relationship with the president-elect, who favors energetic exchanges.
2. **Democrats vs. the process** While Democrats lack the votes to independently stop Hegseth's nomination, they are expected to highlight concerns regarding the process leading up to the hearing. They argue that they do not have full access to the necessary information about Hegseth because the FBI background check is only available to the Senate Armed Services leaders. They are also upset that Hegseth did not meet with the majority of them prior to the hearing.
Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking member of Armed Services, indicated that it will be up to Sen. Roger Wicker to decide whether to share the report with other senators. “That decision has to be made by the chair, and we have done it on two occasions that I can think of,” Reed noted, referencing past nominees who faced similar scrutiny.
This session will mark the first interactions for many Democrats with Hegseth, and they will likely express their concerns. Reed remains the only committee Democrat who has met with Hegseth.
“How do I vote on a guy I haven't met with and do my job?” Sen. Tammy Duckworth questioned. “This is one of the most bipartisan committees in the Senate so it’s very unusual that a SecDef nominee would refuse to meet with members of one party.”
3. **All eyes on Ernst** Ernst is a significant wildcard among the Republicans, as her vote could be crucial for Hegseth’s confirmation. The veteran and advocate for sexual assault survivors has not yet declared her support for him, making her questioning and his responses of particular interest to both parties.
With Republicans holding only a one-vote advantage on the Armed Services Committee, her choice is critical, a fact that the Trump transition team is aware of. Hegseth has met with Ernst twice and made commitments to her, including appointing a senior official focusing on military sexual assault issues. She has described Hegseth as “very supportive of women in the military,” but has also expressed initial doubts about his nomination. As a result, she has faced substantial scrutiny from Trump’s supporters and on social media, especially with her impending reelection campaign in 2026 on the horizon.
4. **Attacking the MAGA agenda** Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has encouraged his members to hold Trump’s nominees “accountable” for his agenda. This is likely to result in pointed questions for Hegseth regarding Trump’s rhetoric around military power and actions that Democrats argue could politicize the armed forces.
Democrats are coordinating their inquiries to avoid redundancy, aiming to question Hegseth on his potential actions if Trump were to request military involvement against what the president-elect has termed “the enemy from within” or if it involved mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Trump's expansive statements related to Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal are also expected to come up, particularly since he has not ruled out using military force for those ventures.
5. **On-camera experience** Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, has the advantage of looking polished and camera-ready, unlike some of his Democratic interrogators. Republicans hope that his media experience, along with his background as a decorated war veteran, will lend him credibility.
However, the senators will also be keen to evaluate how he handles fundamental national defense inquiries, including questions on the appropriate size of the defense budget and how to manage various global hotspots such as the Pacific, Middle East, and Ukraine. If he is unprepared to answer these basic yet vital questions, it could reflect poorly on him.
Republicans have been coaching Hegseth on expected questions, aiming for him to present himself as “comfortable and forthright,” as Sen. Mike Rounds stated. “He's been on TV, he's been in front of an audience before,” Rounds affirmed. “I think he'll do just fine. I really do.”
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
