Behind Pete Hegseth's explosive Senate confirmation hearing

Pete Hegseth faced intense questioning from the Senate Armed Services Committee as he vies for the secretary of defense post in President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet. CBS News' Taurean Small and Nikole Killion report.

[Neimfeltrite]

If you can be held with civil liability and penalty in the tens of millions of dollars over sexual assault and also be a convicted felon, yet be appointed to the highest office in the nation, then yes, I would say Pete Hegseth can be secretary of defense. What's there to complain about at this point?

[dennislang]

Guessing if he gets this job, he will be a MULTI-millionaire in his time served!

[danieldonegan]

When CBS says let’s talk about it get ready for some lies.

[MarketMastersACEO-rnzk]

America is the world's premier military power and this joker is supposed to lead the nation's military forces? Gotta be a bad joke!

[dennislang]

Remember who the "genius" was who nominated this guy! Unqualified guy!

[cassypeed]

Jody Ernest flipped, wonder what she was promised. SMH 🤦🏼‍♀️ shameful

[wayneclark]

Did anyone think to ask Hegseth if he would, under any circumstances, use the US military against the American people?

[optimalprimidius]

Not sure what the definition of woke is but it's opposite is willful ignorance.

[jacobnapkins]

Judging from trumks current picks im sure Bill Cosby and Pdiddy will have a great future in the Trump administration

[tomsenft]

The humiliation it takes to serve Trump is crazy!

[VinylAthletes]

Another liar and slime ball in the Trump orbit. This is the best the GOP has to offer 😂😂😂

[jeffparry]

Anything that upsets the woke is good.

[DZNZ-uozd]

Would you board that plane?

The Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest government agency in the U.S. The DOD has three military departments and 34 agencies. The next leader poised to lead such a vast entity only has military experience as an infantry platoon leader and civil-military officer.

Pete Hegseth was forced out of two leadership roles at the veteran-focused non-profits, Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) and Vets for Freedom (VFF), whose budgets were between only $10–15 million, for grossly mismanaging their finances. In addition, to drunkenness and sexist behavior.

Yet Pete Hegseth is nominated to lead the DOD with an annual budget of $850 billion—a budget 50, 000 times larger than those he failed to manage. If he couldn’t manage a $10–15 million budget, why would anyone trust him to oversee a $850 billion budget?

This is a critical leadership role requiring expert financial management because decisions made here are life-and-death decisions that affect Americans who serve in the national defense.

At CVA and VFF, the total combined number of people Hegseth led was 50. At the DOD, he would suddenly be responsible for those 3.4 million Americans who serve in the national defense. Is it even remotely plausible that someone with such minimal experience can lead an organization of this magnitude?

It’s like hiring a pilot with no flight experience to captain a massive commercial airplane. Would you board that plane? If so, you’d probably also take your sick child to a lawyer, mechanic, or baker instead of a doctor. How would that work out?

America deserves leaders with decades of exceptional executive, military, and financial management experience—leaders who can make sound decisions on day one. This is a gamble America cannot afford to take!

[sumnerkinney]

I am confident that warriors will appreciate the new leadership tone with Pete Hegseth leading the DOD. Recruiting should show marked improvement.

[blackcavi]

Can someone please define DEI hire as it relates to Mr. Hegseth☠️

[ronnieterry]

Work force diversity has no place in the military. The best capable and best qualified must be in the military and promoted in the military.

[mikepatterson]

A horrible twisted joke of a nominee!!! Whatever happened to Trump saying he would only get the best people? This is Best people???

[richardleirer]

I am 70 yrs old and I do 35 Military Push Ups every Morning. How about you guys and Gals?

[davestevens]

War is not a sport. Are you willing to lose one so women can be in combat?

[nasa_sidthesciencekid]

Birds of A Feather Stick Together Liars etc.