In a blistering speech on the Senate floor, Senator Tammy Duckworth attacked the nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, charging that his appointment was based on his previous role as a host on Donald Trump’s favorite Fox News program. Duckworth condemned Hegseth’s qualifications, pointing to reports of his mismanagement of two non-profits, which were driven into financial ruin under his leadership.
“The only thing Hegseth has ever run, he’s run into the ground. The only major organizations he’s ever led, he’s led into debt,” Duckworth declared, underlining her worries about his readiness and integrity.
Duckworth also criticized Hegseth for not knowing much about international alliances, and she reminded that during his confirmation hearing, he was unable to mention the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This was shocking, yet not surprising from a man whose main policy education seems to come from reading Fox News teleprompters,” she said.
She also attacked Hegseth’s previous remarks about women in combat, saying that his nomination portends a lowering of standards for the defense secretary position. “The only standards being lowered today are the ones for secretary of defense,” Duckworth concluded.
