Democrat Mocks Pete Hegseth’s ‘Eleventh Hour Conversion’ on Women in the Military During Testy Exchange

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sparred with Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth over his views on women’s role in the military during the latter’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Their exchange began with Shaheen noting that on November 7, 2024, Hegseth said, “I’m straight-up saying that we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective.”

Here’s how their testy conversation played out from there:

SHAHEEN: DOD’s 2023 demographic report indicated that there are more women serving now and there are fewer separations, so they make up a critical part of our military. Wouldn’t you agree?

HEGSETH: Yes, ma’am. Women in our military, as I have said publicly, have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield.

SHAHEEN: Well, you also write in your book, The War on Warriors, with the chapter, “The Deadly Obsession with Women Warriors,” that, quote, “not only are women comparatively less effective than men in combat roles, but they are more likely to be objectified by the enemy and their own nation in the moral realms of war.” Mr. Hegseth, should we take it to believe that you believe that the two women on this committee, who have served honorably and with distinction, made our military less effective and less capable?

HEGSETH: I’m incredibly grateful for the for the two women who served our military in uniform, and including in the Central Intelligence Agency, contributions on the battlefield. Indispensable contributions. Senator, I would like to clarify: When I’m talking about that issue, it’s not about the capabilities of men and women. It’s about standards. And this committee has talked a lot about standards, standards that we unfortunately, over time, have seen eroded in certain certain duty positions, certain schools, certain places, which affects readiness, which is what I care about the most, readiness on the battlefield-

SHAHEEN: I appreciate that, but-

HEGSETH: …and so, to my comments, time and time again-

SHAHEEN: …however-

HEGSETH: .. to standards.

SHAHEEN: Your statements publicly have not been to that effect. After your nomination, you did state to a group of reporters that you, quote, “support all women serving in our military today who do a fantastic job across the globe, including combat.” So what I’m confused about, Mr. Hegseth, is which is it? Why should women in our military, if you were the secretary of defense, believe that they would have a fair shot and an equal opportunity to rise through the ranks? If on the one hand, you say that “Women are not competent, they make our military less effective.” And on the other hand, you say, “Oh no, now that I’ve been nominated to be the secretary of defense, I’ve changed my view on women in the military.” What do you have to say to the almost 400,000 women who are serving today about your position on whether they should be capable to rise through the highest ranks of our military?

HEGSETH: Senator, I would say I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, men and women, black, white, all backgrounds with a shared purpose. Our differences are not what define us. Our unity, and our shared purpose is what define us. And you will be treated fairly with dignity, honor, and respect, just like every man and woman in uniform, just like the men and women that I’ve worked with in my veterans organizations, to include when I was a headquarters and headquarters company commander in the Minnesota National Guard, and we had women in our ranks as well.

SHAHEEN: Well, I appreciate your eleventh hour conversion.

Watch above via CNN.