Hegseth delivered an opening statement to the committee, outlining his vision for the post and arguing that his background — while it differs from previous Pentagon leaders — is an asset.
Hegseth doubled down on ideas he outlined in his book “War on Warriors.” He said, “when President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.”
“He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, war-fighting, accountability and readiness,” Hegseth said, as another protester was escorted out of the hearing room.
“First and foremost, we will defend our homeland,” Hegseth said, adding that the U.S. can no longer depend on “reputational deterrence.”
“We are not Republicans, we are not democrats, we are American warriors,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth recalled how he first joined the military, saying he served with “incredible Americans” in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. He said when he “took off the uniform, my mission never stopped.”
Hegseth acknowledged that he doesn’t have the biography of previous defense secretaries, while saying that Trump believes “it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm.”
“A change agent,” Hegseth continued. “Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.”
Hegseth said his “only special interest is the warfighter, deterring wars,” and “winning wars,” if called upon, by ensuring “our warriors never enter a fair fight.”
“Like many of my generation, I’ve been there,” Hegseth said, detailing what he’s seen on the battlefield. “This is not academic for me — this is my life.”
Hegseth encouraged senators to ask those who know him of his track record as a leader, saying he would explain the work he did at veterans organizations that has come under scrutiny. He called the position that he’s seeking “the most important deployment of my life,” pledging to executive the president-elect’s vision.
“The president has given me a clear vision, and I will execute,” he continued. “I’ve sworn an oath to the Constitution before, and — if confirmed — I will proudly do it again.”
