Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, highlighted his commitment to warfighting and lethality during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth stressed that his primary focus at the Pentagon would be to instill a warrior culture and prioritize readiness for combat.
During his opening remarks, Hegseth expressed Trump's directive to bring back the warrior ethos to the Department of Defense. He underscored the importance of a Pentagon that is dedicated to warfighting, meritocracy, standards, and overall readiness. Hegseth, drawing from his experience as an Army National Guard infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, emphasized the significance of a strong warrior culture within the military.
Addressing the need for a different approach, Hegseth mentioned his unique background compared to past defense secretaries. He highlighted Trump's belief in appointing individuals with practical experience and a hands-on perspective, rather than relying solely on traditional credentials such as retired generals or defense industry executives.
While acknowledging the combat leadership of previous defense secretaries like Lloyd Austin and Jim Mattis, Hegseth emphasized the value of having a change agent with firsthand combat experience at the helm of the Pentagon. He shared his motivation for joining the military, citing his love for the United States and a deep sense of duty to defend the nation.
Even after leaving the military, Hegseth emphasized that his commitment to serving the country never wavered. His testimony at the confirmation hearing reflected a strong dedication to enhancing the warfighting capabilities and overall readiness of the Department of Defense under his leadership.
