Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a female combat veteran who served in Iraq, criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, for his stance on women in combat roles. Duckworth stated that Hegseth was wrong in suggesting that women should not serve in combat positions, calling him “unqualified” for the defense secretary role.
During an interview, Duckworth emphasized the vital role of the 223,000 women serving in the US military, stating that excluding them from combat roles would render the military ineffective and unable to deploy effectively. She firmly rebutted Hegseth’s views, asserting that women in combat enhance the military’s capabilities.
Furthermore, Duckworth expressed concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for the intelligence community leadership, labeling her as “compromised” due to her past interactions with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and statements perceived as favorable to Russia.