In his book, Hegseth clearly says that some women are indeed the equal of men, and he himself has known many “phenomenal” female soldiers. The problem, as he sees it, is that woke ideologues require every woman to be regarded as being as successful as every man.

Pete Hegseth has dismissed the role of women in the military in past interviews and in his own writing. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said during a November appearance on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast.

Pete Hegseth’s views on women in combat were a matter of public record long before the Senate heard his case to become Donald Trump’s Defense secretary. Women are “life-givers,” Hegseth wrote in his 2024 book,

As author of several books and a former Fox News Channel host, Hegseth has been forced to defend himself against a long record of his own public comments, including in his most recent book, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, acknowledged Tuesday he is “not a perfect person” but was defiant in the face of multiple allegations surrounding his past conduct during a contentious confirmation hearing.

Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing stiff criticism from Democrats—but most Republicans back him.

Joni Ernst had been seen as a key hurdle to Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. She approached her questions firmly but without confrontation Tuesday.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for Defense secretary, faced criticism for his past comments about women in combat.