Pete Hegseth faces scrutiny over his views on military issues and personal conduct as he seeks the role of Secretary of Defense
He’s written several books and used to host a show on Fox News, but now he’s defending some pretty controversial opinions. In his latest book, he talks about what he sees as a betrayal of military values.
Hegseth, a veteran himself, believes the military has weakened due to a focus on diversity and inclusion. He’s not shy about saying he thinks the next commander-in-chief needs to clean house. He’s all about getting back to what he calls “lethality” and “meritocracy” in the military.
When it comes to women in combat, he’s had some strong opinions. He used to say women shouldn’t be in combat roles at all, claiming it complicates things. But under pressure from Congress, he’s softened his stance a bit, saying women can serve in the military, just not in certain combat positions.
On a more personal note, Hegseth has faced allegations of sexual assault, which he denies, claiming everything was consensual. He’s also admitted to cheating in his past relationships, saying he did it to protect his family and job.
He’s also had to address concerns about drinking, insisting he doesn’t have a problem and promising not to drink if he gets the job.
Hegseth has criticized the military’s efforts to address extremism, calling it a fake issue. He even got flagged as a potential insider threat during Biden’s inauguration due to a tattoo, which he claims is just a Christian cross.
He believes a Pentagon chief should have combat experience, and he’s been vocal about wanting to prioritize the needs of warfighters. It’s a lot to unpack, and it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out as he seeks confirmation.
