The Senate Armed Services Committee convened to hear testimony from Pete Hegseth, nominated by former President Donald Trump for the position of Secretary of Defense. If confirmed, Hegseth will lead a Department of Defense with over 3 million personnel and a budget nearing $900 billion.
Hegseth, who holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard, has served in the military for nearly 15 years and was co-host of FOX & Friends Weekend until 2024. During his testimony, Senator Kevin Cramer expressed appreciation for Hegseth’s declaration of faith in his opening statement. Cramer stated, “First, I want to say thank you for your strong proclamation, unapologetic proclamation, of faith in Jesus Christ.”
Hegseth outlined his priorities as Secretary of Defense: rebuilding peace through strength, focusing on military readiness by replenishing ammunition supplies, restoring the Warrior Ethos, and maintaining America’s competitive edge.
A point of contention during the hearing was Hegseth’s Jerusalem Cross tattoo. Orders for him to serve during President Joe Biden’s inauguration were revoked due to allegations that it marked him as an extremist. Hegseth defended the tattoo as a “historic Christian symbol” and noted its presence at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
Addressing concerns about extremism within military ranks, Hegseth said he had been unfairly labeled as such and emphasized the need to change what he described as a political climate within the ranks.
Cramer thanked Hegseth for his commitment to defending freedom and criticized those who questioned his expression of faith. He stated that “the people who would deny you your expression of faith are the extremists.”
In response to questions about diversity and inclusion policies in the military, Hegseth mentioned plans to eliminate what he termed “woke” practices. He asserted that new leadership under Trump would provide lawful orders based on readiness and standards rather than politics.
Cramer concluded by praising Hegseth’s focus on reputational deterrence, emphasizing its importance beyond mere weapon systems.
