Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s polarizing pick to lead the Defense Department, vowed Tuesday to fulfill the US president-elect’s charge of bringing “warrior culture” back to the Pentagon if he is confirmed.
“When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense,” Hegseth said at the opening of his Senate confirmation hearing.
“He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability and readiness,” the former Army National Guard officer and ex-Fox News host said in remarks interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters.
