Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., blasts Pete Hegseth's testimony, particularly regarding women in combat, at confirmation hearing The president-elect said he had an “obligation” to attack one specific late night host.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was grilled by female senators during his confirmation hearing over his past statements about women in combat. New York Sen.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Friday said he will vote to confirm Hegseth, an Army combat veteran whose nomination was under question because of his remarks questioning women's roles in the military, sexual misconduct allegations, as well as allegations that he drank alcohol while working previous jobs.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) unloaded on defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth for his remarks about women serving in combat. At Tuesday's Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, Gillibrand noted that Hegseth had "denigrated" women in the military.

N.Y., accused Pete Hegseth of "denigrating" women actively serving in the military, citing multiple past comments from the defense secretary nominee.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, has publicly faced senators for the first time.

Hegseth was cool in the face of this unhinged questioning. They made him look good today,” said Scott Jennings on CNN.

Hegseth pushed back on allegations that he disparaged women serving in the military under tough questioning during his Senate confirmation hearing.

Hegseth has his faults, to be sure, but he is a solid choice for Sec Def, which he demonstrated during the start of his confirmation hearing this week. Democrats, as expected, went off the rails with their questioning and in many ways reinforced much of what Hegseth preaches about military readiness and standards.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) left the Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday after a contentious questioning of Donald Trump nominee Pete Hegseth. As with many women on the committee, Gillibrand had questions about Hegseth's past stated opposition to women in the military.

Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense — even though he’d surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.